Assessment of awareness among parents about preventive measures of oral health problems in children

Abstract

Objectives: Oral health is an essential factor of day to day life. The habit of maintaining oral health and daily routine for the same should be incorporated into the children from their childhood. An oral cavity free from all disease is maintained by awareness about the preventive measures. Parents play a key role in their kids’ life, thus their understanding toward oral health are important. The aim of the study was to assess awareness among parents about preventive measures of oral health problems in children. The main objective is to assess awareness of problems related to oral cavity and to encourage parents to maintain good oral hygiene of their children by adapting preventive measures and also to know the requirement of encouraging oral health promotion programs. Materials and Methods: A pre-validated questionnaire was distributed among the parents of children aged till age of 12 years old. The questionnaire related to oral hygiene practice and awareness of oral health problems including 13 questions were distributed through Google forms to parents through WhatsApp and email. Results: A questionnaire with 13 items was used to evaluate parents’ knowledge of oral health. Forty-two men and 62 women made up the 104 parents of children between the ages of 6 months to 12 years. Demographic details include 59.61% of females and 40.38% of males were participated. A total of 104 parents participated in the study. In a poll of 104 parents, it was determined that 81.73% of the parents believed that brushing twice a day was important, and 51.92% of the parents felt that they should visit their dentist at 6–12 months of age of child. It was determined from the survey that 81.73% of the parents wanted more information on how to maintain their children’s teeth better. To address all of the survey’s questions, an educational brochure was issued once the questionnaires were collected. It is essential that parents and dentists teach their kids good brushing and oral hygiene habits. Conclusion: Although the parent’s understanding of the many elements that affect dental health was good, there are some aspects where still lack of knowledge exist that must be taken into account. Parents’ education can be the most encouraging factor in preventing oral health problems because prevention is always preferable to cure. To enhance awareness and start dental caries prevention techniques early, it is necessary to supervise dental health education initiatives that are directed at parents of school-aged children.