Language, Nativity, or Both? Oral Health among Mexican Americans

Objective: This study explores the effects of nativity and language preference among Mexican Americans to identify the primary drivers of poor oral health. Materials and Methods: We analyzed adult data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2011-2020), focusing on Mexican Americans (N = 2,840). The three outcomes were irregular dentist visits, self-rated poor oral health, and a clinical measure of missing or incomplete teeth. Results: Foreign-born Mexican Americans were less likely to have irregular dental visits (OR = 0.59), but this trend reversed for Spanish speakers (OR = 1.36), who reported more irregular visits than English speakers. Spanish-speaking Mexican Americans showed worse oral health and more missing teeth, highlighting the negative impact of language barriers. Conclusion: Nativity and language preference interact to limit access to dental care. Spanish-language preference is linked to more severe oral health issues, while foreign-born status is more closely tied to irregular dental visits.