Caries-free against the odds: salutogenic resources in young adults

Oral health inequalities remain a global public health challenge, especially among low socioeconomic groups. While the association between lower socioeconomic status and worse oral health outcomes is well-established, less attention has been paid to the salutogenic resources or protective factors that can promote good oral health in low socioeconomic groups.??The aim was to explore salutogenic resources among healthy, caries-free young adults from low socioeconomic backgrounds. This thesis is based on four studies: a systematic review, a case–control study in Sweden using questionnaire and register data, and two qualitative interviews conducted in Sweden and South Africa. Salutogenic resources were identified at the individual, family, community, and societal levels.??Identified individual resources were coping, health literacy, locus of control, motivation, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and self-regulation.