The use of interdental care products in Korean adolescents aged 12–18 years and factors affecting their use: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2022

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the use of interdental care products among Korean adolescents and identify factors affecting their use. Methods: The study included data of 3,999 adolescents aged 12-18 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted between 2013 and 2022. The usage rates of interdental care products were analyzed based on participant characteristics for each KNHANES cycle, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors influencing their use. Results: The overall usage rate of interdental care products among adolescents was 21.1%, which remained consistent from the 6th to 8th survey periods and increased to 27.6% during the 9th period (2022). Factors associated with the use of interdental care products included household income, frequency of brushing, use of mouthwash, and experience with dental checkups. Conclusions: Although the use of interdental care products among adolescents aged 12-18 years has increased, 72.4% of adolescents still do not use these products. Oral health experts should emphasize the necessity of interdental cleaning when providing oral health education to patients.