Relationship between general hygiene behaviours and oral hygiene behaviours in Iranian adolescents

The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between oral hygiene behaviours and general hygiene behaviours among Iranian adolescents living in Mashhad. A representative stratified random sample of 1,054 Iranian adolescents, in the sixth grade of school, answered a 37-item questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, frequency of toothbrushing behaviours, frequency of taking showers, and frequency of changing underwear, as measures of general hygiene behaviours. Binary logistic-regression analysis was employed to test the association between toothbrushing behaviours and general hygiene behaviours. The results showed that toothbrushing frequency was significantly associated with the frequency of taking showers (odds ratio: 2.40; 95% confidence interval: 1.86, 3.09) and the frequency of changing underwear (odds ratio: 2.14; 95% confidence interval: 1.65, 2.78). These associations were significant for girls and boys when tested separately and remained significant after adjusting for gender and father's education level. Girls were significantly more likely than boys to practice oral hygiene and general hygiene behaviours. In conclusion, there was a positive association between general hygiene and oral hygiene behaviours among Iranian adolescents. This association has important applications for planning health and hygiene-promoting programmes.