Association between maternal and child oral health and dental caries in Korea

Abstract

Aim The aim of this study was to examine the oral health-related behaviors in mothers and their children and the prevalence of dental caries in both. Subject and methods A sample of 2536 children and their mothers was selected from the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Variables were analyzed using multiple regression to evaluate the prevalence of dental caries among children and mothers, demographic socioeconomic status, and oral health-related behaviors.Results The average age of the mothers was 40.28 years and that of the children was 10.88 years. Mean DT scores were 0.67 for mothers and 0.29 for children. Mean DMFT scores were 6.63 for mothers and 1.76 for children. The higher the mother's number of decayed, missing, or filled permanent teeth (DMFT score, B = 0.076, P < 0.001) and number of decayed teeth (DT score, B = 0.032, P = 0.038) in their permanent dentition, the higher the children's DMFT score was for their permanent dentition. Children from mothers with low household income levels (B = 0.159, P = 0.043), with dental pain (B = 0.132, P = 0.032), and not using a dental mouth rinse (B = 0.135, P = 0.007) presented with higher DT scores. Children from mothers with low self-perceived oral health status (B = 0.113, P < 0.001), lower usage of dental floss (B = 0.100, P = 0.012), a lower ratio of protein intake to total energy (B = −0.017, P = 0.014), and lower ratio of fat intake (B = −0.009, P = 0.047) showed lower self-perceived oral health status. Conclusion The better the oral health status of the mother, the better the oral health status of the child was. An effective oral health and education program for mothers should be developed to promote an improved oral health status of their children.

Effect of Income Level and Perception of Susceptibility and Severity of COVID-19 on Stay-at-Home Preventive Behavior in a Group of Older Adults in Mexico City

“…Higher income and educational attainment were associated with a higher probability of staying at home in this study. This is consistent with other studies that have found that behaviors related to improved health are associated with socioeconomic variables in adults and older adults [ 43 , 44 , 45 ].…”

Parental Influences on Children’s Oral Health Behaviors, Reading Behaviors, and Reading Attitudes Associated with the Sharing of a Digital Story from the eBook for Oral Health Literacy© Curriculum

“…Genetics and environmental factors interact to influence individual health patterns, especially among mothers with poor self-rated oral health whose children are more likely to grow up with poorer oral health (Shearer, Thomson, Broadbent, & Poulton, 2011). The higher the number of a mother's decayed, missing, or filled permanent teeth (DMFT score), the higher the children's DMFT score was for their permanent teeth (Lee, Kim, Lee, & Kim, 2019). Although DMFT tends to increase with the age of the child (Singleton, Day, Thomas, Schroth, Klejka, Lenaker, & Berner, 2019), parents also need to be educated on the role that cavities play beyond the consequences of decayed teeth of their children, which may include reduced nutritional deficiencies and unhealthy body weights (Lee & Vann, 2012).…”

Enfermedades prevalentes de la infancia detectadas en atención odontológica y prácticas clave AIEPI

“…De esta forma, inadecuadas prácticas de salud bucal en infantes estarían asociadas con mayor presencia de enfermedad, posiblemente relacionada con insuficiente educación en salud bucal, deficiencias en la autoeficacia de los cuidadores y determinantes de la salud general en relación con hábitos de cuidado. No obstante, la respuesta por parte de las madres y/cuidadores de la frecuencia de cepillado podría estar influenciada por comportamientos socialmente deseados y puede que no necesariamente coincida con la frecuencia real de cepillado de los niños 40 .…”