Prevalence of Non-Daily Teeth Cleaning and Its Associated Factors Among Adult Population in Rwanda

Abstract

Oral hygiene practices are vital for maintaining health, yet many adults do not engage in daily teeth cleaning. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of non-daily teeth cleaning among adults in Rwanda using data from the 2022 Rwanda Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) STEPS Survey which used a cross-sectional design and multistage cluster sampling. Weighted prevalence estimates and logistic regression models were used to examine associations between non-daily teeth cleaning and key demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and oral health factors. The prevalence of non-daily teeth cleaning was 33.1% (95% CI: 31.0-35.2). Rural residence (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.5-4.1), lower education (AOR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.2-0.6), lower income (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.3-3.2), and not using toothpaste (AOR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0-1.7) were significantly associated with increased odds of non-daily teeth cleaning. These findings underscore the need for targeted oral health promotion strategies that address socioeconomic disparities and improve access to affordable hygiene products.