Good role models? Tooth brushing capabilities of parents: a video observation study

Abstract

Background Research in adolescents reveals that they are not capable to remove dental plaque effectively. Inconsistent application of brushing techniques and neglect of certain areas while brushing are very common. As parents play a major role in the oral health education, the present study aimed to examine and describe the tooth brushing performance of the parents of adolescents. Methods Parents of adolescents (N = 66) were asked to perform oral hygiene to the best of their capabilities in front of a video camera and dental plaque was recorded before and afterwards. Papillary bleeding was also assessed. Results The tooth contact time (i.e. net brushing duration) averaged 155 s ± 58 s. Gingival margins showed persistent plaque at 68% ± 14% of the sections assessed. Papillary bleeding was found at 52% ± 18% of the papillae. Parents brushed inner surfaces lesser than the outer surfaces (41 s ± 24 s vs. 73 s ± 33 s) and 29% of the parents completely missed the inner surfaces of at least one sextant. On the outer surfaces parents predominantly applied circular movements (66% ± 25% of brushing time). Vertical brushing prevailed on the inner surfaces (52% ± 30%). However, horizontal scrubbing was also very common (46% ± 31%). Conclusions Parents’ tooth brushing performance was neither effective in terms of plaque removal nor did they fully comply with tooth brushing recommendations such as considering all inner surfaces when brushing or application of other than horizontal movements to lateral surfaces. Regarding oral hygiene, parents should not only be a good role model in terms of timing, frequency and duration of tooth brushing but should also be able to demonstrate how to brush teeth completely and effectively. The current research indicates that they might lack the latter skill.

What characterizes effective tooth brushing of daily users of powered versus manual toothbrushes?

“…The groups do differ significantly in the extent they neglected the inner surfaces. Nevertheless, similar to the MT users in the current and previous analyses [ 1 , 5 , 14 ], the PT users brushed their inner surfaces shorter and brushed fewer inner sextants sufficiently long compared to outer sextants. A similar pattern regarding distribution of brushing time across surfaces and neglect of inner sextants was found in another study [ 15 ] instructing PT and MT users to brush their teeth as usual.…”

“…The goal of tooth brushing is to remove plaque and thereby to prevent plaque-induced diseases and maintain oral health. Although manual toothbrushes are a well-established device for this, recent studies show that people have difficulties achieving oral cleanliness after manual tooth brushing [ 1 – 5 ]. Despite the instruction to perform oral hygiene to the best of one’s abilities, high levels of plaque persist after tooth brushing, especially adjacent to the gingival margin.…”

Patients’ awareness regarding the quality of their oral hygiene: development and validation of a new measurement instrument

“…The second study was part of a larger project analysing the oral hygiene behaviour of adolescents and their parents (see [ 35 , 36 ]). The study protocol was conducted according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Board of the Medical Faculty at the University of Giessen, Germany (approval no.…”

“…For details on participant characteristics, recruitment and inclusion/exclusion criteria, see [ 35 ] and [ 36 ]. Briefly, 66 adolescents (10-year-olds [n = 42; 21 male, 21 female; M = 10.1 ± 0.5] and 15-year-olds [n = 24; 17 male, 6 female, 1 non-binary; M = 15.2 ± 0.3]) and 66 parents (11 male, 54 female, 1 non-binary, aged between 32 and 57 years, M = 44.5 ± 5.3) were recruited through schools, social media, the university's internal mailing list and print media.…”

Interdisziplinäre Früherkennungsuntersuchungen in der Kinderzahnmedizin

“…Häufig werden die zervikalen Flächen der Frontzähne nicht ausreichend gereinigt. Die reflektorische Anspannung der Oberlippe kann hierbei ein möglicher Grund für die mangelhafte Reinigung sein 39 . „Lift-the-Lip“ – das leichte Hochschieben der Oberlippe mit dem Zeigefinger – ist eine leicht für die Eltern umsetzbare Hilfe, um den Zahnhals zu reinigen.…”