A survey of children's toothbrushing habits in Wales: Are parents following the guidelines?

Abstract

Dental decay continues to be a significant public health problem across the UK. Brushing teeth twice-daily with fluoride toothpaste is considered an important aspect of prevention, and promoting good brushing habits at an early age is important to prevent early childhood dental decay. Analysis of a dental epidemiology survey in Wales was undertaken to compare the reported brushing habits of 3-year-old children to the recommendations made in the Delivering Better Oral Health toolkit ( Public Health England, 2014 ). The responses from parent and guardian questionnaires completed show that these health promotion messages are not being universally followed, and that children living in deprived areas were more likely to experience dental decay. Health visitors have a key role to play in providing oral health promotion to families with babies and young children.