Table 2.
Advice received by participants, whether it was followed, and what might help adherence to advice
| Oral health advice received in the past (all participants)* | All (%) (n = 222) | Gingivitis (%) (n = 76) | Periodontitis (%) (n = 123) |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | 9.3 | 9.3 | 7.3 |
| Brushing technique | 74.1 | 65.3 | 78 |
| Specific toothbrush | 32.9 | 28 | 35.8 |
| Interdental floss/brush | 73.6 | 66.7 | 78.9 |
| Mouthwash | 29.6 | 66.7 | 33.3 |
| Specific toothpaste | 18.1 | 22.7 | 15.4 |
| Dietary | 13 | 24 | 11.4 |
| Smoking cessation | 18.5 | 10.7 | 21.1 |
| Was advice followed? (All participants who had received advice) | All (%) (n = 189) | Gingivitis (%) (n = 63) | Periodontitis (%) (n = 112) |
| Always follow advice | 58.7 | 55.7 | 60.2 |
| Follow to start with, then struggle | 39.7 | 44.3 | 37.2 |
| Have difficulty following advice | 1.6 | 0 | 2.7 |
| What might help you follow advice (all participants)* | All (%) (n = 210) | Gingivitis (%) (n = 74) | Periodontitis (%) (n = 116) |
| Understanding what will happen if I don't follow the advice | 57.1 | 52.1 | 59 |
| Being shown how to brush and floss correctly | 41.9 | 45.2 | 40.2 |
| Being shown pictures by the dentist to help explain gum health | 24.8 | 16.4 | 30.8 |
| Toothpaste/mouthwash recommendation | 43.8 | 47.9 | 43.6 |
| Toothpaste/mouthwash sample from the dentist | 32.4 | 34.2 | 31.6 |
| A leaflet about how to improve gum health | 35.7 | 26 | 42.7 |
| Daily reminders (for example, app/text/note in bathroom) | 11 | 9.6 | 11.1 |
| Buying a power brush | 21.9 | 24.7 | 19.7 |
| A brush app that encourages two-minute brushing | 15.7 | 17.8 | 15.4 |
| "Key: * = All participants who answered the question" | |||