South Australian kindergarten children: dental health factors in urban and country families.

Abstract

Abstract: Data obtained in a survey by questionnaire to parents and kindergarten directors of the dental health practices of 4,381 children aged 2½‐6 years from kindergartens in metropolitan Adelaide and country centres revealed that the practice of eating sweet biscuits between meals was common and that 55 per cent of children 5–6 years had never visited a dentist. Eleven per cent of city and 19 per cent of country children rarely or never used a toothbrush. Taking of fluoride tablets was associated with better dental health practices. Between 7 and 13 per cent of all children had a deficiency in vitamin C intake.