Page 10 - Petelin, Ana. 2024. Ed. Zdravje delovno aktivnih in starejših odraslih | Health of the Working-Age and Older Adults. Zbornik prispevkov z recenzijo | Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press

occasionally by 64% of adults, an interdental brush was used regularly or
occasionally by 52% of adults, and a tongue scraper was used regularly
or occasionally by 23% of adults. Further statistical data are included
in the paper. Discussion and conclusions: Brushing teeth at least
twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and interdental brushing and/or
flossing and tongue scraping once daily are recommended as effective
measures to prevent oral disease. There is also a need to raise awareness
of the importance of dental hygiene among the target population
in terms of age, education and living environment. The results and
recommendations for improving oral health are a step towards reducing
the burden of oral diseases and costs in the (dental) healthcare system.

Keywords: oral health, adults, oral hygiene, fluorides

Introduction
Oral health is an integral part of general health and has a significant impact
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on the quality of life of individuals and society. Like other aspects of health,
oral health is determined by the individual, social and physical environment
zdravje otrok in mladostnikov | health of children and adolescents
(WHO, 2024).
In Slovenia, we are following the trend of establishing a system for moni-
toring oral health indicators. With the results of the »National Oral Health
Survey of Adults in Slovenia in 2019«, the level of oral health care among adults
at national level was determined for the first time. The aim of our study was
to assess the state of oral health in adults and make recommendations for its
promotion.
In this article, we report in detail on the results and findings in relation to
oral hygiene, fluoride use and the use of (other) aids to maintain oral hygiene.

Methods
The study was designed as a cross-sectional epidemiological survey of the
Health Interview Survey (HIS) type and was conducted according to the re-
sults of a pilot verification study (Šket, 2015). The study was conducted in spring
2019 on a representative sample of the general population aged 18–74 years,
which included 3,200 adults (0.21% of the population in Slovenia).
The survey was conducted using the EGOHID questionnaire (Bourgeois
et al., 2008). The adults included in the study received an invitation to partici-
pate in the survey at a home address with a password to access the online ques-
tionnaire. For participants over 44 years of age, a written questionnaire was
enclosed with the notification letter. Participants received a further postal re-
minder during the survey period.
In our study, we analysed the frequency of tooth cleaning. When analy-
sing, we combined the categories »brushing teeth twice or several times a day«
and the categories »once a day«, »several times a week«, »once a week« and
»never«, as regular tooth brushing means that teeth are brushed at least twice a