Comparison of the recognition of toothbrush replacement time according to oral health knowledge of university students in some regions of Korea

Objectives: This study investigated the awareness of appropriate toothbrush replacement timing and oral health knowledge among university students in Korea. Methods: 198 university students participated in online and on-site surveys. The collected data were analyzed using the R program, with a significance level of 0.05. Logistic regression analysis was performed using sex and age as independent variables. Results: Students with a higher level of oral health knowledge were significantly more likely to replace their toothbrush at the recommended time than those with a lower level of knowledge (OR: 2.115, 95% CI: 1.021-4.385, p=0.028). Conclusions: Higher oral health knowledge was significantly associated with more frequent toothbrush replacements at the recommended time. Oral health education should be expanded to promote proper toothbrush replacement habits and improve oral health management, particularly for those with limited access to health information.