The Association Between General Health Literacy and Oral Health Among Korean Adults

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between general health literacy (HL) and multiple oral health indicators among Korean adults. METHODS: We analyzed data from 5338 adults (≥ 19 years) who participated in the 2023 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. HL was assessed using the Health Literacy Index for the Community (HLIC), with scores < 28 indicating inadequate HL. Three oral health status outcomes (chewing difficulty, self-rated oral health, and voice discomfort) and one preventive dental care utilization outcome (oral health screening) were examined. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for sociodemographic, health-related, and behavioral factors. RESULTS: After full adjustment, inadequate HL was associated with chewing difficulty, voice discomfort, and poor self-rated oral health. Additionally, individuals with inadequate HL were less likely to have undergone preventive oral screening in the past year. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that inadequate HL is independently associated with poorer oral health outcomes and reduced dental care utilization, particularly in Asian contexts where oral health literacy interventions remain limited.