Present state of dental health knowledge, attitudes/behaviour and perceived oral health of Japanese employees.

The aim of this survey was to assess the present state of dental health knowledge, attitudes/behaviour and perceived oral health of Japanese employees. A 60-item questionnaire was used in a dental health project in the work place. The subjects comprised 77,845 employees, 76 per cent of whom reported delaying a dental visit until they had toothache, with about 60 per cent delaying even when they discovered a decayed tooth. The majority did not regard decayed teeth as a disease and only a minority reported regular dental visits. About three quarters reported bleeding gums on brushing, although more than half had never been taught professionally how to clean their teeth and less than 5 per cent flossed daily. More than half believed that false teeth were inevitable in old age, and that their teeth were getting worse despite daily brushing. About 70 per cent of the employees thought that it was impossible to prevent gum disease with toothbrushing alone, and nearly half believed a toothpaste with fluoride was effective in preventing periodontal disease. Reorientation of oral health care in Japan, therefore, is urgently needed and dental services have to be provided for the implementation of systematic oral health promotion for employees in the workplace.