Income strongly linked to oral health, UCLA study finds

A University of California, Los Angeles study examining socioeconomic and environmental factors found significant disparities in oral health status, with income being the most influential of these indicators.

Researchers analyzed data from UCLA Center for Health Policy Research's 2017 and 2018 California Health Interview Survey and found that nearly 1 in 2 of the lowest-income adults in California report having poor oral health, compared to 1 in 5 for those with the highest incomes.

"Oral health should be included in screening tools for social needs," said Dr. Maria Ditter, co-author of the study. "This can be followed by providing oral health services to meet those needs by collaborating with providers and community-based organizations and bringing all necessary stakeholders to the table to address oral health needs."

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