Table 1.

Self-Reported Toothbrushing Frequency in Each Grade (includes children measured only once)

Grade	Beginning of 5th		End of 5th		6th		7th		8th
Toothbrushing Frequency*†	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n
Less than daily	2%	14	2%	14	1%	8	2%	9	1%	7
Daily	15%	102	14%	88	15%	100	19%	110	15%	84
Twice daily	33%	217	37%	234	35%	237	39%	232	41%	221
More than twice daily	50%	330	47%	293	49%	325	41%	244	43%	232
Total	100%	663	100%	629	100%	670	101%	595	100%	544

^*Frequency improved from end of fifth to sixth grade (Wilcoxon signed ranks test, z=−2.192, p<.03).

^†Declined from sixth to seventh grade (Wilcoxon signed ranks test, z=−3.299, p<.001).