COVID-19 팬데믹 전·중·후 시기별 구강건강행태에 미치는 영향

The Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic Periods on Oral Health Behaviors: Before, During, and After the Pandemic

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on oral health behaviors among Korean adolescents and to identify disparities by sociodemographic factors. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Survey (KYRBS) data from 2018 to 2023, comprising the responses of 331,869 middle and high school students. The pandemic was divided into three phases: pre-pandemic(2018~2019), peak-pandemic(2020~2021), and transition(2022~2023). Key variables were tooth brushing frequency, brushing after lunch, and sealant experience. A complex sample design and weights were applied ; logistic regression analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS 25.0. Results: Tooth brushing frequency and school-based oral health education significantly decreased during the peak-pandemic period and transition periods, indicating a weakening of school-based oral health practices that did not recover even in the transition period. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected adolescents’ oral health behaviors by weakening school-based preventive practices. Policies should prioritize restoring school oral health programs and ensuring equitable access to preventive services.