Factors Associated with Toothache Among African American Adolescents Living in Rural South Carolina

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore behavioral factors associated with toothache among African American adolescents living in rural South Carolina. Using a self-administered questionnaire, data were collected on toothache experience in the past 12 months, oral hygiene behavior, dental care utilization, and cariogenic snack and nondiet soft drink consumption in a convenience sample of 156 African American adolescents age 10 to 18 years living in rural South Carolina. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess the associations between reported toothache experience and sociodemographic variables, oral health behavior, and snack consumption. Thirty-four percent of adolescents reported having toothache in the past 12 months. In univariable modeling, age, dental visit in the last 2 years, quantity and frequency of cariogenic snack consumption, and quantity of nondiet soft drink consumption were each significantly associated with experiencing toothache in the past 12 months (all p values < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that younger age, frequent consumption of cariogenic snacks, and number of cans of nondiet soft drink consumed during the weekend significantly increased the odds of experiencing toothache in the past 12 months (all p values ≤ 0.01). Findings indicate age, frequent consumption of cariogenic snacks, and number of cans of nondiet soft drinks are related to toothache in this group. Public policy implications related to selling cariogenic snacks and soft drink that targeting children and adolescents especially those from low income families are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Dental pain
• carbonated beverages
• dietary sucrose
• rural health
• questionnaire

Notes

This study was supported by NIH Grant Number P20 RR-017696 from the National Center for Research Resources. This study was presented (March 10, 2006) as a poster at the 35th Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the American Association for Dental Research, Orlando, FL.

Note. ^aIndicates binary variable.

^bPlus-minus values are Means ± SD. All remaining values are percents.

^cIncluded in multivariable models.

^aIndicates binary variable. For both models, N = 99.