Predictors of self-rated oral health in Canadian Indigenous adults.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to: (1) compare oral health indicators between Indigenous adults and the general population and (2) examine the predictors of poor self-rated oral health in the Indigenous population.

Methods: Data from the 2017-2018 cycle of the Canadian Community Health Survey was used and included 943 Indigenous and 20,011 non-Indigenous adults. Independent variables included demographic information, lifestyle behaviours, dental concerns and care utilization, and transportation access. The dependent variable was self-rated oral health. A logistic regression was performed to determine predictors of poor self-rated oral health.

Results: More than half of the Indigenous sample were aged between 35 and 64 years (57.3%); 57.8% were female. Compared to the general population, the Indigenous group were significantly more likely to have no partner, have less post-secondary education, and have an income of less than $40,000. Almost a fifth of the Indigenous sample self-rated their oral health as poor (18.5%) compared to 11.5% in the general population. Indigenous participants reported significantly poorer general health, had poorer oral care practices, and lifestyle behaviours than the general population (all p < .001). Indigenous adults having poor self-rated oral health was predicted by poorer general health, being a smoker, male, bleeding gums, persistent pain, feeling uncomfortable eating food, avoiding foods, and not seeking regular dental care.

Conclusions: There are many predictors of poor self-rated oral health, many of which are preventable. Providing culturally adapted oral health care may improve the likelihood of Indigeneous adults visiting the dentist for preventative care.