During adolescence, the individual experiences the best health indexes, which can be maintained and/or improved, depending on their perception and valorization influencing their quality of life. The study assessed the opinion of adolescents (n=493) from the Mirim Foundation of the Araçatuba county in São Paulo State, Brazil, about their oral and general health, as well as their perception about them, through a semi-structured questionnaire, in the school year period of 2006, since they have access to information on oral health care and speeches about health in general. Among the interviees, 34.5% referred to health as something to be cared of; 26.6% defined it as well-being;ç 18.1%, as related to their very existence, and 14.5%, as an absence of disease. In relation to the concepts of oral health, 68.4% defined it as hygiene; 16.2%, as physical appearance and 15.5%, as to the absence of oral diseases. The perception of these youngsters about their health in general was excellent for 46.5%, and good for 44.1%. Concerning their oral health, for 53.6% it was good, and for 24%, excellent. One can conclude that the adolescents have an idea about general health, as well as oral health, but the oral health classification is lower, since it involves emotional, esthetic and social aspects. Moreover, the need of prevention-educative programs designed for this group is indubitable.
teen's health; oral health of adolescents; perception; adolescent
