“Keep smiling”: a national action of oral health prevention for young people aged 18-24 years - ROS - 2018 - Tome 47 - N°2

Santé publique

Pages 103 to 125

ABSTRACT — The French student population was often considered as having a good level of oral health in spite of the absence of epidemiologic inquiries within this population. This study has the dual purpose of assessing the habits and the knowledge concerning oral and food hygiene among the student population in France and to effectively deliver simple and understandable prevention messages. Although the results concerning the students’ oral health are globally encouraging, it seems important to to pursue and focus on the information and prevention actions. The highlighting of several risk behaviors and the lack of congruence between habits and knowledge reveal a particularly sensitive population. The general and specific risk factors need to be tackled, particularly at this age and period of life, favorable to the acquisition of good habits which will last in the adult life.