Oral Health in Young Adults: The Impact of Socioeconomic Factors and Health Literacy

Lene Marita Steinvik (), Gro Eirin Holde and Linda Maria Stein
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Lene Marita Steinvik: Department of Clinical Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
Gro Eirin Holde: Department of Clinical Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
Linda Maria Stein: Department of Clinical Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: Oral diseases remain prevalent, although most of them can be prevented. Oral health inequities represent a critical problem of social injustice worldwide. Health literacy has emerged as a potential determinant of oral health disparities, comparable in impact to socioeconomic factors. This study explored the impact of socioeconomic factors and health literacy on oral health in young adults in Norway using data from the third wave of the Fit Futures study (n = 705), which included questionnaires and clinical oral examinations. Measures included self-reported oral health, oral health-related quality of life (OIDP-8), caries experience (DMFT), gingivitis (BOP), health literacy (HLS-Q12) and socioeconomic factors. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that lower health literacy was associated with poorer self-reported oral health (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.93–0.98) and lower oral health-related quality of life (OR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90–0.98). Higher health literacy was associated with a greater caries experience (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01–1.09). Lower educational attainment was associated with less favorable outcomes across all oral health measures (OR: 1.7–2.6, all p < 0.05). These findings suggest that both health literacy and education influence oral health. Interventions aimed at enhancing health literacy and reducing barriers should be tested to empower young people and support their long-term oral health.

Keywords: dentistry; health literacy; health promotion; health systems; Norway; oral health; quality of life; socioeconomic factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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