Which factor contributes significantly to gaps in oral health literacy among populations?

Socioeconomic status and education levels play a pivotal role in shaping oral health literacy within different populations. Individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may have limited access to resources that promote dental health knowledge, including quality education and healthcare. This lack of access can lead to gaps in understanding preventive practices, the importance of regular dental check-ups, and the implications of oral diseases.

Moreover, those with lower education levels may struggle to comprehend health information, including instructions provided by dental professionals or materials available in clinical settings. Higher education typically correlates with better health literacy overall, enabling individuals to engage in informed decision-making regarding their oral health. This connection highlights why socioeconomic status and education levels are significant determinants in achieving equitable oral health literacy across diverse communities. Factors such as advanced dental terminology or the cost of dental products may contribute to knowledge gaps, but their impacts are often overshadowed by the foundational influence of socioeconomic conditions and educational attainment. Age can also affect health literacy, but it is often mediated by education and socioeconomic status, making those factors more central to the issue.