Bedtime Oral Hygiene Behaviours, Dietary Habits and Children's Dental Health.

George Kitsaras,Michael P Kelly,Michaela Goodwin,Iain A Pretty

doi:10.3390/children8050416

Abstract

Background: Oral hygiene behaviours as well as dietary habits before bed can affect children’s dental health resulting in higher prevalence of dental disease. Dental disease can affect children’s health, development and even school performance. If left untreated, dental disease can progress and it can lead to extractions under general anaesthetic causing further distress for children and families. Consistent and appropriate oral hygiene behaviours and dietary habits can prevent dental diseases from occurring in the first place. Objective: This cross-sectional study examines the relationship between oral hygiene behaviours, dietary habits around bedtime and children’s dental health. Methods: A total of 185 parents with children between the ages of 3 and 7 years from deprived areas participated in the study. Data on bedtime routine activities were collected using an automated text-survey system. Children’s dental health status was established through examination of dental charts and dmft (decayed, missed, filled teeth) scores. Results: In total, 52.4% of parents reported that their children’s teeth were brushed every night. The majority of children (58.9%) had dmft scores over zero. In total, 51 (46.7% of children with dmft score over 0 and 27.5% of all children) children had active decay. The mean dmft score for those experiencing decay was 2.96 (SD = 2.22) with an overall mean dmft score of 1.75 (SD = 2.24). There were significant correlations between frequency of tooth brushing, frequency of snacks/drinks before bed and dmft scores (r = −0.584, p < 0.001 and r = 0.547, p = 0.001 respectively). Finally, higher brushing frequency was associated with a lower likelihood of a dmft score greater than 0 (Exp(B) = 0.9). Conclusions: Despite families implementing oral hygiene behaviours as part of their bedtime routines those behaviours varied in their consistency. Results of this study highlight the need for additional studies that consider bedtime routine-related activities and especially the combined effects of oral hygiene practices and dietary habits due to their potentially important relationship with children’s dental health.

Highlights

Dental caries is the most common preventable disease with an estimated 60% of children worldwide experiencing dental caries that can often lead to pain, discomfort and may impact negatively on quality of life [1]
This study examined oral hygiene behaviours and dietary habits before bed in families with young children and their relationship with children’s dental health
The results of this study showed the importance of bedtime oral hygiene and dietary habits in relation to children’s dental health

Summary

Introduction

Dental caries is the most common preventable disease with an estimated 60% of children worldwide experiencing dental caries that can often lead to pain, discomfort and may impact negatively on quality of life [1]. The negative impact of dental caries at an early age includes chewing difficulties, sleeping difficulties, changes in behaviour (e.g., irritability), implications with psychological development (such as low self-esteem), loss of school days with subsequent decrease in school performance [3,4,5]. Dental caries, if left untreated, can lead to dental extractions under general anaesthetic with further implications for children’s psychosocial wellbeing with increased pain, need for hospitalisation and increased anxiety for children and parents [6]. Dental extractions under general anaesthetic add pressures to public finances and healthcare services [6]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion