Dental health knowledge and attitudes of regularly attending mothers of high-risk, pre-school children

Abstract

The aims of this study were to discover the knowledge of and attitudes towards dental health of a group of regularly attending mothers of young children at high-risk of caries, and to evaluate their toothbrushing techniques. As part of the baseline examination of a randomised controlled trial to test the influence of dental health counselling on the caries increment of at-risk pre-school children, 268 mothers of 334 children completed a questionnaire enquiring about their dental health knowledge and attitudes, and were also observed brushing their children's teeth. Although most mothers (71%) knew that they should brush their children's teeth twice a day using a small toothbrush (94%) only 52% knew that they should use only a small pea-sized amount of paste, and only 3% knew the recommended level of fluoride in toothpaste for these at-risk children. 40% of the children insisted on brushing their own teeth and 40% of the mothers brushed their children's teeth inadequately. Although three-quarters of the mothers knew that sugary foods and drinks should be consumed only at mealtimes, only 7% knew the four foods and drinks supplying most sugar to a child's diet. Although three-quarters of mothers thought that dental decay in milk teeth was very important, only half wanted their children's carious teeth restored. Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour about dental health among these regularly attending mothers of at-risk, pre-school children were superficial. Their attitudes to dental health of primary teeth were equivocal and their demonstrated brushing behaviour on the part of their children was inadequate.