Analysis of Influence on Oral Health Behavior after Wearing a Mask due to COVID-19

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify changes in oral health behaviors due to long-term wearing of masks due to COVID-19 and to identify factors influencing oral health behaviors. During the month of May 2021, 461 questionnaires in Korea were surveyed on the mask wearing status and oral health behaviors. The demographic characteristics, oral health status and oral health care, frequency analyses were conducted, and paired t-tests were carried out to compare the oral health behaviors before and after wearing a mask due to COVID-19. Finally, linear multiple regression analysis was performed to identify factors affecting oral health behaviors after wearing a mask. As a result, in gender, there was a significant difference in 'Average time to wear a mask per day' and 'Frequency of mask reuse', and in education, there was a difference in 'Average time to wear a mask per day' and 'Whether to reuse the mask'. For age, occupation, and systemic disease, there were significant differences in 'Average time to wear a mask per day', 'Whether to reuse the mask' and 'Frequency of mask reuse' (p<.001). Oral health behaviors have been lowered before and after wearing masks due to COVID-19, and factors affecting oral health behaviors after wearing mask were ‘Gender’, ‘Who to use the mask’, ‘Scaling experience with in 1 year’, ‘The average brushing time’, and ‘Use of oral hygiene products’ (p<.001). Therefore, we should try to manage their oral health well, which can be neglected as they wear masks for a long time due to COVID-19.