Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To visualise and explore patterns of daily toothbrushing frequency in Irish adolescents and contribute to the understanding of predictors of toothbrushing habits in autistic adolescents and adolescents with intellectual disability. METHODS: Data from the Growing Up in Ireland national longitudinal child study were explored to visualise patterns of toothbrushing in children between 9 and 17/18 years. Data for 17/18-year-olds were examined using descriptive and logistic regression analysis to gain insight into predictors of twice-a-day toothbrushing within the full adolescent dataset and a subgroup of autistic adolescents and adolescents with intellectual disability. RESULTS: Gender, eating breakfast every day and experience of orthodontics positively predicted twice-a-day toothbrushing for young people in general. Oral health rating below excellent, infrequent dental checkups, obesity and drinking soft drinks (not diet) daily negatively predicted twice-a-day toothbrushing. For autistic adolescents and adolescents with intellectual disability, results suggested that the lowest self-rating of oral health, drinking soft drinks (not diet) daily and being autistic with intellectual disability may be factors that influence less than twice-a-day toothbrushing. CONCLUSION: Regular contact with the dental team and healthy lifestyle habits may positively influence twice-a-day toothbrushing. Frequency of toothbrushing and actionable targets to support oral health, where high support and more complex oral health challenges exist, require further research.