[Dental health practices of 506 Greek adults attending a dental clinic].
A recording of dental education and oral hygiene practices of 506 adults attending the clinics of Preventive Dentistry and Periodontics of the University of Thessaloniki, by answering a questionnaire, has been attempted. The answers were treated statistically using the chi 2 test according to sex, age and educational status. It appears that 49% of men and 27% of women do not brush their teeth daily (7% of men never do), while age, sex and education are significant parameters of most dental practices examined. Only 24% have been shown brushing technique by a dentist, whilst toothbrush selection is mainly based on advertisement or non-professional advice. Although about 84% of the dentifrices sold in Thessaloniki contain fluoride, only 20% of this sample were aware of its usefulness. The results call for urging the public to higher dental education and motivation to practicing oral hygiene procedures.