Prevalence of daily flossing among adults by selected risk factors for periodontal disease-United States, 2011-2014.

BACKGROUND

Daily flossing prevalence was determined among adults ≥30 years old in the United States, by demographic and risk factors for periodontal disease, including current tobacco use and diabetes.

METHODS

Data from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed for 8,356 adults. Flossing prevalence was estimated. Logistic regression analysis examined the association between daily flossing and demographic and risk factors for periodontal diseases.

RESULTS

Daily flossing among adults was 31.6% (standard error [SE] = 0.8). There were significant differences among the categories of flossing according to age, sex, race/Hispanic origin, poverty status, education, current tobacco use, and diabetes status. In adjusted analyses, current tobacco users (odds ratio [OR]: 0.82; 95% confidence index [CI] 0.68, 0.99) had lower odds of daily flossing than non-tobacco users; there was no significant difference between adults with and without diabetes (OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.52, 1.08).

CONCLUSION

Approximately one-third of adults in the United States reported that they floss daily. Daily flossing was higher among women, those with higher income, and non-Hispanic Asian and Hispanic adults, but it was lower among current tobacco users.