Oral health knowledge in pre-school children: A survey among parents in central Italy

Abstract

Background The aim of this survey was to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of parents about potential oral health risk factors and correct management of oral hygiene of their preschool children. Material and Methods The participation to the survey was proposed to all parents of 3-5 year aged children attending a kindergarten in Campobasso. A self-administered questionnaire was completed to obtain information regarding demographic and education variables, knowledge about caries and its transmission, infant feeding practice, maternal oral health during pregnancy, parents and children’s oral hygiene habits and risk behaviors (e.g., sharing cutlery, tasting of baby food, nightly using of baby bottles or pacifier), oral health prevention and role of school. Results Overall, the parents of 101 children consented to fill the questionnaire. Data analysis showed that only 24% of respondents was aware of the potential vertical transmissibility of cariogenic bacteria through contaminated saliva. It is still a common trend from 61% of parents tasting food of their child. On 101 children, 30% used pacifier and 17% used baby bottle with milk during night and among these children 41% for more than 2 years. Parents reported no toothbrushing for 57% of the children in their first 3 years of life. Conclusions From this survey, independently on parents education, it emerges as still nowadays parents are not fully trained and informed about the management of their child’s oral hygiene and as it’s necessary a parental oral health promoting program to control children oral health risk status, starting from school. Key words: Oral health, pre-school children, dental caries, oral prevention.

Knowledge and Practice of Preventive Measures for Oral Health Care among Male Intermediate Schoolchildren in Abha, Saudi Arabia

“…Oral health knowledge of schoolchildren is influenced by socioeconomic factors, such as gender, ethnicity, type of school, income as well as the educational level of their parents [9,22,23]. A recent study by Calcagnile et al indicated that not all parents in Italy are well informed with the oral hygiene of their children and, consequently, an oral health promotion is highly recommended [24]. Greater attention to visit the dentist regularly and maintain oral health is demonstrated by parents with a high educational level and sufficient income [22,23,25].…”

<p>Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Among University Students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia</p>

“…8,9,12 It was reported that the development of caries can be decreased with parental supervision in addition to tooth brushing. 36,37 Our participants were university students, and thus parental guidance probably plays less of a role than it does for younger students. In addition, the participants' monthly income did not seem to significantly contribute to oral hygiene knowledge or behavior.…”

“…This result was unexpected and differs from the findings of previous studies, which have shown significant correlations between socioeconomic status and oral hygiene. 35,36 This finding might be explained by a lack of oral health knowledge, which negatively affects participants' behaviors. Furthermore, participants who frequently brushed and flossed had better oral health knowledge.…”

Study of Parents’ KAP regarding their Children’s Oral Health and the Factors that Influence Children’s Risk of Dental Caries

“…16 During the preschool period, parents are the primary persons responsible for their children's oral health, so parents should acquire su cient oral-health knowledge and implement relevant oral-healthpromotion activities to control their children's oral-health risks. 17 UK-based researchers have suggested that, to protect children's oral health, "health visitors" (i.e., publichealth nurses) should receive training in oral-health promotion, including how to perform oral-health risk assessments and guidance on evidence-based, up-to-date prevention measures. 18 On the other hand, in the US the "dental home" has been developed to foster a comprehensive, sustained, coordinated, familycentered approach to providing oral-health care among children.…”