Oral health habits of schoolchildren in 11 European countries.

This study is part of the Cross-National Survey on Health Behaviour in Schoolchildren--A WHO Collaborative Study, which started in 1982. The aim of the study was to describe the oral health habits (oral hygiene habits, use of sugar snacks and use of fluorides) in schoolchildren in 11 countries. The data were gathered during the 1985-86 school year, and the age groups studied were 11-, 13- and 15-year olds from Austria, Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Wales. The data are nationally representative for the age groups concerned. Exact results are presented for toothbrushing frequency and use of dental floss, toothpicks, sweets, soft drinks, fluoride toothpaste, fluoride rinses and fluoride tablets. Toothbrushing was consistently less frequent among boys than among girls. Use of dental floss is still very rare. Efforts must be continued to reduce the consumption of sweets and soft drinks. These findings should be taken into consideration when attempts are made to improve oral health education.