Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this survey was to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of parents about potential oral health risk factors and correct management of oral hygiene of their preschool children.Material and MethodsThe participation to the survey was proposed to all parents of 3-5 year aged children attending a kindergarten in Campobasso. A self-administered questionnaire was completed to obtain information regarding demographic and education variables, knowledge about caries and its transmission, infant feeding practice, maternal oral health during pregnancy, parents and children’s oral hygiene habits and risk behaviors (e.g., sharing cutlery, tasting of baby food, nightly using of baby bottles or pacifier), oral health prevention and role of school.ResultsOverall, the parents of 101 children consented to fill the questionnaire. Data analysis showed that only 24% of respondents was aware of the potential vertical transmissibility of cariogenic bacteria through contaminated saliva. It is still a common trend from 61% of parents tasting food of their child. On 101 children, 30% used pacifier and 17% used baby bottle with milk during night and among these children 41% for more than 2 years. Parents reported no toothbrushing for 57% of the children in their first 3 years of life.ConclusionsFrom this survey, independently on parents education, it emerges as still nowadays parents are not fully trained and informed about the management of their child’s oral hygiene and as it’s necessary a parental oral health promoting program to control children oral health risk status, starting from school. Key words:Oral health, pre-school children, dental caries, oral prevention.
Highlights
The incidence of dental diseases, especially caries, remains high in pediatric age, despite the undoubted improvements obtained in terms of general health [1]
There is a large difference in dental caries development between 1-3 year- aged children: in Japan, where dental examinations are performed at the age of 18 months and 3 years, it was found that the prevalence of dental caries increae327
The cause of these results is surely due to a misinformation by the scientific institutions. Despite these first not very encouraging data, from the study carried out, it turned out that only 12 children (12%, 95% CI [0.06, 0.2]) have already had some experience of dental caries, compared to 88 (88%, 95% CI [0.88, 0.94]) of healthy children. Among this 12%, 10 children (83%, 95% CI [0.52, 0.98]) received dental care while 2 (17%, 95% CI [0.02, 0.48]) did not. -Section II - Behavioral habits of parents and children Despite the shortcomings that still exist among the parents regarding the oral health status of their child, all of the parents examined, it is certain and sure that all members of the family must have their own home oral hygiene
Summary
The incidence of dental diseases, especially caries, remains high in pediatric age, despite the undoubted improvements obtained in terms of general health [1]. In accordance with the prevalence criteria of the diseases and the relevance of the health problem that they represent, particular attention has been paid to the following topics: - prevention of carious lesions; - prevention of gingivitis; The aim of this survey was to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of parents about potential oral health risk factors and correct management of oral hygiene of their preschool children. A self-administered questionnaire was completed to obtain information regarding demographic and education variables, knowledge about caries and its transmission, infant feeding practice, maternal oral health during pregnancy, parents and children’s oral hygiene habits and risk behaviors (e.g., sharing cutlery, tasting of baby food, nightly using of baby bottles or pacifier), oral health prevention and role of school. Conclusions: From this survey, independently on parents education, it emerges as still nowadays parents are not fully trained and informed about the management of their child’s oral hygiene and as it’s necessary a parental oral health promoting program to control children oral health risk status, starting from school
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