Role of oral health-related behaviors in education inequalities in chronic periodontitis among Sri Lankan men.

Aims: The aims of the present study were to determine education inequalities in chronic periodontitis (CP) among Sri Lankan men and whether oral health behaviors explain education inequalities in CP.

Methods: Data from 720 males who participated in a study to determine the prevalence of CP in 30-60-year-olds in Colombo district, Sri Lanka, were used for the present study. An interviewer administered a questionnaire obtained information about sociodemographics and oral health behaviors. Following the assessment of periodontal parameters, case definitions proposed by the Centers for Disease Control/American Academy of Periodontology were used to define periodontitis.

Results: Education gradients were observed in relation to CP, smoking, betel quid chewing, alcohol use, and dental utilization. Education gradients in CP remained, but attenuated after adjustments for smoking, betel quid chewing, alcohol use, and dental utilization. Current smoking and current alcohol use explained 4%-38% and 6%-15% of the associations between education and CP, respectively. The education gradient in CP remained following simultaneous adjustment for all behaviors, but lost significance for 11-13 years of education.

Conclusion: Of the oral health behaviors considered, current smoking contributed the most to education inequalities in CP, explaining 4%-38% of the education differences in CP.