Lifestyle and psychosocial correlates of oral hygiene practice among Indonesian adolescents

Poor oral hygiene leads to poor oral health, which in turn has negative impacts on overall health and quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of oral hygiene practice among school-going adolescents in Indonesia. Secondary analysis of cross-sectional, nationally representative data from the 2015 Indonesia Global School-based Health Survey, covering 11,142 students aged 11-18 years, was performed. Multiple logistic regression was employed to explore associations between lifestyle, psychosocial factors, and tooth-brushing frequency. Around 10.8% of the students brushed their teeth less frequently than the recommended twice-daily regimen. Male gender, lower socio-economic status, poor dietary practice, longer sedentary time, drug use, psychological distress, less peer support, and no parental support were associated with infrequent tooth brushing. The findings support the need to integrate oral health promotion into general health actions that target families, schools, and social environments of adolescents to develop healthier habits.