Social factors and oral hygiene habits among caries free children in a low fluoride area in Sri Lanka

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Abstract
The relationship of toothcleaning habits and caries free status of a group of 13-16-yr-old children who were not subjected to any caries preventive measures in Sri Lanka were studied. Despite lack of prevention, 31% of the subjects were caries free, and a higher proportion of these were boys. All subjects reported brushing their teeth at least once a day. The study failed to show any relationship between either brushing frequency or the use of brush or finger for toothcleaning, and caries. Although social status by father''s employment was not related to the caries status, it was seen that a higher proportion of children of employed mothers'' were caries free. Significant differences in oral hygiene habits except brushing frequency were noted among different social groups.