Oral Health Behaviors and Associated Factors in Patients with Diabetes

Objective] This study assessed self-management of oral health behaviors and associated factors in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.[Methods] A total of 128 dentulous outpatients (71 males, 57 females) on drug therapy completed a questionnaire compiled from a pre-semi structured interview and the literature.Logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with oral health behaviors, consisting of oral hygiene behaviors and dental visits.[Results] Oral health behaviors of patients were relatively better compared with the data from general survey.Logistic regression analysis showed that a positive perception of the relationship between diabetes and oral conditions (OR, 0.02), no occluding difficulties (OR, 0.06), efficacy of toothbrushing (OR, 0.06), no gingival swelling (OR, 13.51), perception of habits (OR, 0.07), and no diabetic retinopathy (OR, 9.23) were associated strongly with oral hygiene behaviors.No tooth movement (OR, 8.04), and injection therapy such as insulin or glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist (OR, 0.15) for diabetes therapy were associated strongly with dental visits.[Conclusions] Factors promoting oral health behaviors included, good oral conditions, no diabetic retinopathy, self-care habits, and a positive perception of the "relationship between oral conditions and diabetes" and "efficacy of good dental habits for diabetes".