J Korean Acad Oral Health.  2025 Mar;49(1):12-17. 10.11149/jkaoh.2025.49.1.12.

The relationship between self-rating of subjective oral health, oral hygiene behaviors, and objective oral health status: a retrospective study

• Seo HW
• Kim YT
• Lee BA

• KMID: 2566556
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11149/jkaoh.2025.49.1.12

Abstract

Objectives
To investigate the relationship between self-rating of subjective oral health, oral hygiene behaviors, and objective oral health status, and to identify factors that determine self-rating for subjective oral health.
Methods
This retrospective study examined data from 1,128 patients who underwent panoramic radiography and oral examination based on national health checkups between 2009 and 2015. Oral hygiene behavior was validated using a questionnaire, and the presence of oral diseases was validated through oral examination and panoramic radiographs. The effect of oral hygiene behaviors on the presence of oral diseases or dental treatment was evaluated using univariate regression analysis. Oral hygiene behaviors and the prevalence of oral disease were compared, according to selfrated subjective oral health, using the chi-square test. Factors affecting self-rating of subjective oral health were determined using multivariate regression analysis.
Results
Patients who brushed their teeth less than three times per day had a higher risk of dental caries, periodontitis, and missing teeth (P<0.05). The percentage of patients performing oral hygiene behaviors differed significantly according to the self-rating of subjective oral health. The factors affecting the self-rating of subjective oral health were pain and the presence of restored teeth. The presence of gingivitis, periodontitis, and the number of dental caries had no significant effect on the self-rating of oral health.
Conclusions
Self-rating of oral health was determined by treatment experience rather than objective oral health status and it affected oral hygiene behavior.

Keyword

Dental care; Mouth diseases; Oral health; Oral hygiene