Abstract
BackgroundChildren with a Cleft Lip and/or Palate (CL/P) have been reported to have poorer oral health than those without the condition. The consequences for these children can be particularly problematic due to implications for future treatments. Tooth brushing is an important behaviour contributing to children’s oral health, but is under researched in the CL/P population. The aim of the study is to explore the experience of maintaining tooth brushing among children in the United Kingdom (UK) with a CL/P and their parents.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were carried out with twenty-two parents and sixteen children with a CL/P (5-11 years), recruited at a cleft centre in the UK. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis.ResultsThree key themes were drawn from the qualitative data: first, parents of children with a CL/P generally had strong motivation to look after their children’s teeth but children’s motivation was inconsistent. Second, parents were primary enablers of children’s tooth brushing behaviour, often employing approaches adapted to their child’s characteristics to encourage tooth brushing. Third, a range of obstacles were encountered by parents and children in maintaining regular tooth brushing behaviours. They reported obstacles such as issues related to CL/P, ‘forgetting’ and childhood illness.ConclusionsThe paper suggests that parents of children with a CL/P need support to enact their intention to maintain regular tooth brushing and prioritise tooth brushing within the context of demanding and dynamic family life.
Highlights
Children with a Cleft Lip and/or Palate (CL/P) have been reported to have poorer oral health than those without the condition
A summary of the results is provided in Fig. 2 as follows: Parents’ and children’s intentions of caring for teeth Some children with a CL/P, and their parents, showed strong intentions to care for teeth
We have presented three observations derived from the data: first, some children with a CL/P and all parents showed a strong intention in making sure tooth brushing takes place
Summary
Children with a Cleft Lip and/or Palate (CL/P) have been reported to have poorer oral health than those without the condition. In 2012, the James Lind Alliance (a non-profit making initiative recommending research priorities in the UK), with the help of those affected by CL/P, identified caries prevention, as one of the ‘top 12’ priorities for cleft research [16]. This shows that caries prevention is an important topic for families of children with a CL/P. It is important to understand the problems children and parents experience in establishing and maintaining an adequate tooth brushing routine in order to design effective interventions to help enacting tooth brushing in everyday life
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