Decision-behavior of Using Oral Healthcare Products of the People in Amphur Detudom, Ubonratchathani

Abstract

          The objective of this research was to study the decision-behavior of using the oral healthcare products among
people in order to use data for dental personnels to settle dental health promotion program suitable for field context. The qualitative data collection techniques were used including key-informant interviews, in-depth interviews in15 pre-school children guardians and12 elderly people, and focused group discussing in 53 elementary school students, 52 high school students and other 64 people in Tumbon Maungdet and Tumbon Taphosri, Amphur Detudom, Ubonratchathani. The study revealed that most of guardians decided to select children’s toothpastes depending on their incomes and their children’s oral healthcare. Some families used adults’ toothpaste for everyone. Therefore they had to highly supervise the children’s brushing activity. The high school students were concerned about their mouth odor therefore they used gum chewing and sweets. Other people’s selection of toothpaste depended on brand, price and long lasting- uses rather than the quality. Some people preferred to use herbal-based toothpastes because of good control of odor and healing their gum disease. Most of elderly people used finger -scrub with salt to clean their teeth. They preferred toothpicks, without being concerned about fluoride, and rarely using the dental floss. This study concluded that the dental health educations should be accommodated for people’s selection and method of oral cleaning, which depended on their life-style.