Factors Associated with Periodontal Disease Among Working-Age Adults Aged 35–44 Years in Thailand

Abstract

Periodontal disease is a major oral health problem among working-age adults. Untreated periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss in older age and negatively affect quality of life. This study aimed to identify factors associated with periodontal diseases among working-age adults in Thailand using data from the 9^th National Oral Health Survey 2023. The sample included 3,670 adults aged 35–44 years. Data were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression the statistical significance level was set at   p < 0.05. The results showed that farmers had 2.00 times higher odds of gingivitis (OR_adj = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.45–2.70, p < 0.001) and 2.07 times higher odds of periodontitis than government and state enterprise employees (OR_adj = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.47–2.91, p < 0.001). Participants with no income, including students, housewife, unemployed individuals, Buddhist monks, and persons with disabilities, had 1.76 times higher odds of periodontitis compared with government and state enterprise employees (OR_adj = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.08–2.85, p = 0.023). In addition, inappropriate oral health behaviors, including not using dental floss, smoking, and not having visited a dental service within the previous year, were significantly associated with higher odds of periodontal disease. In summary, the findings indicate that workers from the informal sector, particularly farmers and general laborers/taxi drivers, as well as individuals with no income tended to have higher odds of gingivitis and periodontitis than government and state enterprise employees. These findings highlight the need to prioritize workers from the informal sector and individuals with no income who are facing barriers to accessing oral health promotion and disease prevention services. Therefore, policy measures should include clearly targeted oral health promotion and disease prevention interventions for workers from the informal sector and individuals with no income, together with proactive dental services. Service delivery mechanisms should also be convenient, accessible, and appropriate to the specific contexts and needs of workers from the informal sector and individuals with no income.