Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a school-based intervention project conducted in a mid-sized Finnish city, Laukaa on schoolchildren's oral health behavior. Material and Methods. In the intervention, all children received dental education and some of the 7–12-year-old schoolchildren received individual tooth brushing instructions by a dental nurse in 2009-2010. Parents were present at the instruction sessions. In 2009 and 2010, all the children answered a questionnaire or an oral hygienist on their oral health behavior without identification. Results. Tooth brushing frequency increased significantly among the schoolchildren between the years 2009 (61.2%) and 2010 (65%) (P < 0.05); more so among younger children (7–10-year-olds) compared to the older ones (11-12-year-olds). The 2010 results showed a slight trend of decreasing tooth brushing frequency by age both among girls and boys. Younger children got significantly more often parental help or reminding. The girls brushed their teeth significantly more frequently (71.9%) than boys (57.0%). Conclusions. Our findings indicate that oral health intervention can be beneficial on health behavior especially for children at low grades. All children, 11 to 12 years of age, especially boys, need continuous health promotion.
Highlights
According to a WHO survey conducted in 2005/2006, Finnish schoolchildren’s tooth brushing frequency was one of the lowest in Europe [1]
The 2010 results showed a slight trend of decreasing tooth brushing frequency by age both among girls and boys
Our findings indicate that oral health intervention can be beneficial on health behavior especially for children at low grades
Summary
According to a WHO survey conducted in 2005/2006, Finnish schoolchildren’s tooth brushing frequency was one of the lowest in Europe [1]. Thirty-seven percent of Finnish 11-year-old boys and 55% of girls reported brushing their teeth more frequently than once a day. All values were clearly below the European mean values: 11-year-olds 56% and 67%, 13-yearolds 55% and 69%, and 15-year-olds 54% and 74% for boys and girls, respectively. Children in Lithuania, Greece, Turkey, and Malta brushed their teeth more seldom than the Finns. Children in Switzerland and in Finland’s neighboring country Sweden brushed their teeth most often [1]. There are no statistics of tooth brushing frequency of children at lower grades
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