Children's Oral Hygiene Research Articles

YouTube™ quality as a source for parent education about the oral hygiene of children.

Early childhood caries is the most common chronic disease of children and a worldwide health problem due to its high prevalence. Maintaining oral hygiene is the first step towards prevention, with parental education being a key factor influencing oral health. The increasing popularity of the Internet as an information source has led to the need to evaluate the reliability and quality of existing information. The aim of the present study was to review YouTube videos on oral hygiene procedures for children and to assess them in terms of their usefulness as a means of educating parents. A search of YouTube was performed using the keywords "child tooth brushing." Video lengths, dates of upload, numbers of total views, likes, dislikes and comments were collected. Viewing rates and interaction rates were then calculated. Two dentists independently evaluated the included videos' usefulness in terms of their content. The majority of the 90 included videos (68.8%) were uploaded by health-related professionals or websites. Many of the videos were found to be moderately useful (45.6%), with a smaller percentage found to be slightly useful (31.1%). The percentage of very useful videos was 17.8%. Parental supervision during brushing was highlighted in most of the videos (77.7%), while the importance of parents' brushing for modelling (15.5%) was mentioned the least. YouTube videos can be used as a useful source for parental education. However, there is a need to improve the quality of the education provided by public health and oral health professionals.

The Effect of Repetition of Oral Health Education by Dokterkecil on knowledge, attitudes, OHIS and PHP Score Changes of 8-12 Years Old Children in Tangerang Selatan Indonesia in 2019

Most Indonesian children still don’t brush their teeth before going to bed and after breakfast. Peer group model education has been proven to be able to improve oral hygiene in children. This study aimed to estimate the effect of educational repetition by dokterkecil on knowledge, attitude and oral hygiene score changesin children aged 8-12 years. This was a quasi-experimental study design. Involved 69 child school respondents from 3rd, 4th and 5th grade and 15 children were selected as dokterkecil and assigned to provide education to the respondent for 3 times. Knowledge and attitudesdata were collected using a questionnaire that was filled out by the respondents while OHIS and PHP data were collected through an intraoral examination. it was carried out at5th, 10th and 14th weeks. Data analyzed with Longitudinal Data Multilevel Analysis. Results: There were positive changes in knowledge, attitudes, OHIS and PHP scores after 1st, 2nd, 3rd education (p <0.005).) The most drastic changes occurred in 1st and continue to slope after 3rd education. Suggestions Oral health education by dokterkecil needs to be given repeatedly to reinforce the positive changes the other hand the repetition can lead to boredom. Education by dokterkecil should be given in various forms to keep interesting and maintain the child’s motivation

Programa educativo sobre prevención en salud bucal en niños menores de cinco años

El objetivo de la investigación fue mejorar el nivel de conocimiento de técnicas preventivas en salud bucal mediante el Programa Educativo denominado “Boquitas sanas, caritas felices” en niños menores de 5 años en situación de vulnerabilidad en Puno (Perú). Estudio fue de tipo experimental, longitudinal y prospectivo con pre y post prueba utilizando método educativo y comunicativo. Para evaluar la higiene oral en los niños fue empleado el índice simplificado de Greene -Vermillion y un cuestionario validado denominado “Salud bucal para padres de familia”. Del análisis de los resultados destaca que el mencionado programa debe ser considerado en prevención y promoción de la salud bucal, ya que promueve el conocimiento óptimo en la población adulta que se evidenció en la salud bucal de los niños menores de 5 años al finalizar la intervención. Se concluye que un programa educativo sobre prevención en salud bucal mejora el nivel de conocimiento de los padres de familia sobre la salud oral de sus hijos, disminuyendo la placa bacteriana en los niños, evidenciado en un positivo índice de higiene oral después de la intervención.

Mothers' knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding their primary school children's oral hygiene

Background Evaluation of parental knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding dental hygiene is an important tool which projects parent's outlook toward oral health of their children. Proper dental hygiene prevents dental caries and allows early detection for any abnormality in earlier stages. Objective The aim was to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of mothers regarding oral health and its effect on their children's dental health status. Patients and methods This is a cross-sectional study of a random sample of 392 primary school children and their mothers. The children were selected randomly from two primary schools randomly selected from Shebeen El-Kom district's primary schools and proportionally allocated according to the total number of children in each school. A predesigned questionnaire was used to assess mother's knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding their child's oral hygiene. Results Good knowledge of proper oral hygiene was represented by 88.5% of the studied group. Approximately 70% of the studied group had positive attitude toward proper oral hygiene, and 52.3% had satisfactory level of oral hygiene practice. The study shows a statistical significant difference of mothers' good knowledge level and their education, occupation, and socioeconomic status. Proper knowledge and practice regarding oral hygiene statistically significantly increase the absence of decayed or filled teeth. Conclusion Good knowledge, positive attitude, and satisfactory practice of mothers regarding child's oral hygiene affect dental health status of the studied children.

Assessment of the evaluation of oral hygiene in children with cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy, one of the diseases of the central nervous system, is a serious disease that is caused by various brain injuries during the first year of life: before, inside and after childbirth. Patients with cerebral palsy lag behind in physical and mental development, and due to their inability to help themselves, this causes not only medical, but also social problems. Proper dental care for sick children with cerebral palsy is one of the measures to prevent diseases of the oral mucosa and its complications. According to S.V. Erzina (2005) Children with cerebral palsy, aged 7-18and the prevalence of periodontal disease in adolescents is 94.4%, in most cases they occur in the form of chronic catarrhal gingivitis [1.3]. Oleinik (2001, 2002, 2008) found the following increased dental performance in children with central nervous system diseases: The prevalence of caries (98.0%), the prevalence of periodontal disease was found in 80.0% and hypersalivation processes in 84%.

Maternal knowledge, dental service utilization and self-reported oral hygiene practices in relation to oral health of preschool children in Lagos, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION: Maternal oral health practices and perception about infant oral health are probable pointers to the status of an infant´s oral health. We aimed to evaluate maternal knowledge about infant oral health and oral hygiene practices. METHODS: a descriptive study was conducted among 334 mothers using a cluster sampling technique. A 32-item pretested validated, interviewer administered questionnaire obtained socio-demographic data, pattern of dental service utilization, maternal and child oral hygiene practices and to assess oral health related knowledge. Linear regression analysis was conducted to assess predictors of knowledge scores, p ≤ 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. RESULTS: only 42 (12.6%) knew how a baby´s mouth should be cleaned while 127(38%) knew that cariogenic bacteria was transferrable. The mean knowledge score was 4.89 ± 1.72 out of 9. There was a moderate positive significant correlation (0.334; p<0.000) between maternal educational level and having good knowledge. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the knowledge score was significantly associated with mother´s oral hygiene practices (β=0.167; 95% CI; p<0.001), education level (β=0.321; p<0.000).

Changes in young children's oral health‐related behaviours and caregiver knowledge: A cluster randomized controlled trial in Brazil

To evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention to improve young children's oral health-related behaviours and caregiver knowledge. This paper reports on findings from a cluster randomized controlled trial, 12months after of baseline, conducted in Pelotas, Southern Brazil. Two Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) and 170 caregiver-child dyads were assigned to an intervention group, and two PHCs and 174 dyads were assigned to a control group. Children's oral hygiene behaviours, sugar consumption and use of dental services were the outcomes analysed as well as changes in caregiver knowledge. The impact of the intervention was assessed using multilevel mixed-effects model regressions and the change rate ratios (IRR) were expressed. There were positive and significant changes in favour of the intervention group in children's oral hygiene behaviours, use of dental services, and caregivers' knowledge of oral health. For example, children in the intervention group were more likely to have brushed with fluoride toothpaste at least two times a day (IRR 1.43, 95% CI 1.06-1.92), to have brushed their teeth before bedtime (IRR 1.37, 95% CI 1.02-1.84), and to have used dental services for preventive care (IRR 2.54, 95% CI 2.02-3.19) than children in the control group. This intervention had positive effects on children's oral health-related behaviours and caregivers' oral health knowledge.

Association between malocclusion, caries and oral hygiene in children 6 to 12 years old resident in suburban Nigeria

BackgroundThere are conflicting opinions about the contribution of malocclusions to the development of dental caries and periodontal disease. This study’s aim was to determine the association between specific malocclusion traits, caries, oral hygiene and periodontal health for children 6 to 12 years old.MethodsThe study was a household survey. The presence of malocclusion traits was assessed in 495 participants. The caries status and severity were assessed with the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft/DMFT) index and the pulpal involvement, ulceration, fistula and abscess (pufa/PUFA) index. The Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) and Gingival Index (GI) were used to assess periodontal health. The association between malocclusion traits, the presence of caries, poor oral hygiene, and poor gingival health were determined with chi square and logistic regression analyses. Statistical significance was inferred at p < 0.05.ResultsSeventy-four (14.9%) study participants had caries, with mean (SD) dmft/DMFT scores of 0.27 (0.82) and 0.07 (0.39), respectively, and mean (SD) pufa/PUFA index scores of 0.09 (0.43) and 0.02 (0.20), respectively. The mean (SD) OHI-S score was 1.56 (0.74) and mean (SD) GI score was 0.90 (0.43). Dental Aesthetic Index scores ranged from 13 to 48 with a mean (SD) score of 20.7 (4.57). Significantly greater proportions of participants with crowding (p = 0.026) and buccal crossbite (p = 0.009) had caries. Significantly more children with increased overjet (p = 0.003) and anterior open bite (p = 0.008) had moderate to severe gingivitis. Poor oral hygiene (OR: 1.83; CI: 1.05–3.18 p = 0.033), crowding (OR: 1.97; CI: 1.01–3.49; p = 0.021) and buccal crossbite (OR: 6.57; CI: 1.51–28.51 p = 0.012) significantly increased the odds of having caries. Poor oral hygiene (p < 0.001), increased overjet (p = 0.003), and anterior open bite (p = 0.014) were the only significant traits associated with gingivitis.ConclusionsCrowding and buccal cross bite were associated with caries, whereas increased overjet and anterior open bite were associated with gingivitis. These findings justify the recommendation of orthodontic treatment to improve oral health.

Parental Knowledge and Acceptance of Different Treatment Options for Primary Teeth Provided by Dental Practitioners.

Background: Parents have an influence on dental treatment options for young children regarding type of care provided. The aim of this study was to assess parents' knowledge and acceptance of different treatment options for primary teeth provided by dental practitioners for their children.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, caregiver/child dyads (n = 476) were recruited from patients at Pediatric Dental Clinics, Jordan University of Science and Technology. The data collection questionnaire to parents included: 1-demographic data 2-parental knowledge and practices regarding child's oral hygiene, caries and caries prevention 3-parental knowledge and acceptance of different treatment options for primary teeth including two given clinical scenarios (ICDAS-5 molar requiring intra-coronal restoration, ICDAS-6 molar requiring pulp therapy and stainless steel crown) with pictures before and after treatment. Afterwards, the child underwent a dental examination to record dmft/DMFT, gingival and plaque indices. Data was analyzed using SPSS, significance was set at P ≤ 0.05.Results: Children's ages were 2–12 years (mean/SD 6.97 ± 2.5); with 255/53.6% males, 221/46.4% females. There were (166) children 2–5 years in primary dentition; (108/166) 65% had ECC, and (n = 62/166) 37.4% had S-ECC, and (310) 6–12 years in mixed dentition; (278/310) 89.7% had caries. Scaling and extraction were the highest known and accepted treatments for primary teeth by parents (35.5 and 30.1%, respectively), while nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation was the least (3.6%). Parental educational level was significant for composite restorations, fluoride gel application and pulp therapy (P = 0.03, 0.02, and 0.03, respectively) and age above 40 for amalgam restorations (P = 0.04). In both scenarios, most parents preferred to leave any care decision in hands of the dentists with no effect of educational level (P > 0.05). There were 81.5% parents who reported that their children's dental status was good, however, 78.4%/42.8% children had an average dmft/DMFT score 5.34/2.32 and mean PI/GI scores 0.88 ± 0.20/0.17 ± 0.23.Conclusion: Parental knowledge and acceptance about dental treatment options for primary dentition was generally low. Parental education and age had an impact on parental knowledge and practices regarding child's oral hygiene, caries and caries prevention, and some treatment options. There was an overrated parental opinion of their child's teeth status despite the high dmft/DMFT and PI.

An epidemiological study of dental caries and associated risk factors among primary school children in the Aileu Municipality, Timor-Leste

Recent evidence indicates that the oral health for children in Timor-Leste is deteriorating, with 40% of school children experiencing toothache during 2014. Timorese have easy access to sugar, poor food security and lack of water fluoridation, all of which exacerbate the risk of dental caries. A lack of quality epidemiological data is available to confirm anecdotal information of high caries rates in rural and remote Timor-Leste. Such data are required to inform oral health issues and health policy at both the local and national levels. This study investigated the caries status and potential risk factors among primary school children in the rural Aileu municipality of Timor-Leste. The objectives of this study were to determine caries prevalence and experience, the status (active/arrested) of existing caries lesions and associations between dental caries and potential risk factors, among primary school children in the Aileu municipality, Timor-Leste. This study analysed secondary data. De-identified data for this analysis were obtained from North Richmond Community Health (NRCH), Melbourne, Australia. North Richmond Community Health (NRCH) has been working with the Friends of Aileu (a government-to-government partnership between an Australian local government area and the municipality of Aileu) to improve the oral health of school children in the municipality of Aileu. NRCH conducts an outreach school-based oral health promotion program, called Kose Nehan, at six primary schools in the Aileu municipality. Caries was diagnosed using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System &#40;ICDAS&#41; and reported using the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT/dmft) index. Examiners were trained and calibrated. A brief interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to capture information on child oral hygiene and diet behaviours. For the analysis, dental caries was defined as 'any caries lesions' (ICDAS caries codes 1-6). Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted using STATA 14. Multivariable logistic regression analysis predicting the odds of dental caries (yes/no) was used to determine independent associations between the exposures and the outcome. Data were analysed for 685 children. In the primary dentition, the overall prevalence of caries was 64% and the mean dmft score was 2.74 (standard deviation (SD) 3.08). In the permanent dentition, the overall prevalence was 53% and the mean DMFT score was 1.74 (SD 2.46). Overall, approximately 84% of caries lesions were identified as being active. The multivariable regression analysis did not identify independent predictors of caries. Dental caries was highly prevalent among this population and urgent action is required to reduce the population burden of this disease. Malnutrition, which was not measured for this study, is highly prevalent among children in Timor-Leste and could explain the high caries rates in this population. The effect of malnutrition on dental caries and vice-versa needs further investigation. Programs and policies are urgently needed for oral health promotion and also the prevention and management of dental caries in Timorese children. These strategies should also address the urgent need for emergency dental services aimed at pain relief, first aid for oral infections and restorations, given the high prevalence of advanced disease in this child population.

Oral Health Perception and Difficulties Encountered by Parents in the Implementation of Oral Hygiene of Children Under 6

Oral Health Perception and Difficulties Encountered by Parents in the Implementation of Oral Hygiene of Children Under 6

Influence of customized therapy for molar incisor hypomineralization on children's oral hygiene and quality of life.

ObjectiveThe aim of this clinical follow‐up study was to demonstrate the effects of different therapeutic strategies for hypomineralized teeth on patients' oral health. The treatment results were characterized by changes in the extent of hypersensitivity and plaque accumulation, as well as reductions in nutritional restrictions.Material and MethodsThe impacts of therapy, including the use of fluoride varnish, fissure sealants, fillings, and stainless steel crowns, were evaluated in 78 children (mean age 8.5 years). We followed recommendations according to the Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation Treatment Need Index for customized treatment. The Quigley Hein Index, the Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale, Wong–Baker Faces Scale, and dietary‐limiting parameters were assessed before and after therapy for comparison.ResultsPlaque accumulation and hypersensitivity decreased after completion of therapy. The improvements were greater for individual teeth (Quigley Hein Index for teeth treated with stainless steel crowns from 4.19 to 2.54) than for those of the whole dentition (high‐severity category from 2.67 to 2.20). Problems with food intake were minimized via therapy, with the greatest influence observed for patients who were also in the high‐severity category.ConclusionsTherapy for affected teeth in children has positive effects on oral health and quality of life.

A qualitative study of the multi-level influences on oral hygiene practices for young children in an Early Head Start program

BackgroundIndividual child-level risk factors for Early Childhood Caries (ECC) have been studied, but broader family- and community-level influences on child oral hygiene behaviors are less well understood. This study explored multiple levels of influence on oral hygiene behaviors for young children in Early Head Start (EHS) to inform a future behavioral intervention targeting children from low-income families.MethodsTwenty-four semi-structured interviews were conducted with mothers of children under 4 years old, enrolled in the home visitor (HV) component of one EHS program in Los Angeles, CA, who participated in the BEhavioral EConomics for Oral health iNnovation pilot study (BEECON) in 2016–7. Audio-recordings of interviews were translated if needed, and transcribed in English, and coding and analysis was facilitated by Dedoose qualitative software. This investigation used general thematic analysis guided by the Fisher-Owens child oral health conceptual framework to identify influences on oral hygiene behaviors for the young children.ResultsMany mothers reported brushing their children’s teeth twice/day, and concern that most children frequently resisted brushing. They identified children being sick or tired/asleep after outings as times when brushing was skipped. Several child-, family-, and community-level themes were identified as influences on child oral hygiene behaviors. At the child-level, the child’s developmental stage and desire for independence was perceived as a negative influence. Family-level influences included the mother’s own oral hygiene behaviors, other family role models, the mother’s knowledge and attitudes about child oral health, and mothers’ coping skills and strategies for overcoming challenges with brushing her child’s teeth. Overall, mothers in the EHS-HV program were highly knowledgeable about ECC risk factors, including the roles of bacteria and sugar consumption, which motivated regular hygiene behavior. At the community-level, mothers discussed opportunities to connect with other EHS-HV families during parent meetings and playgroups that HV coordinated. A few mothers noted that EHS-HV playgroups included brushing children’s teeth after snacking, which can be a potential positive influence on children’s hygiene practices.ConclusionChild-, family- and community-level factors are important to consider to inform the development of tailored oral health preventive care programs for families in EHS-HV programs.

Edukacja zdrowotna w zakresie higieny jamy ustnej jako integralny element profilaktyki chorób nowotworowych jamy ustnej

The article presents the characteristics of developing health-promoting skills and attitudes relating to oral hygiene based on an analysis of the literature. Epidemiological data and risk factors for oral cancer will then be described. The last part of the text will present an analysis of the research on the state of oral hygiene in children and adults in Poland. The aim of the article is to emphasize that the dissemination of knowledge in the field of oral hygiene may in effect contribute to the improvement of health-promoting behaviours, which in consequence may prevent the development of cancer in the oral cavity.

AGE SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ORAL HYGIENE LEVEL OF SCHOOLCHILDREN

One of the most important reasons of dental caries appearance in children is improper oral hygiene which results in the accumulation of plaque containing significant amount of pathogenic microflora. Its vital activity products cause demineralization of tooth hard tissues. This is relevant for children of all ages but the most important in first years after teething as teeth are poorly mineralized and have tendency to the appearance of carious process.&#x0D; Totally 412 children aged 6 to 16 years old attending organized children's collectives (schoolchildren from 1st to 11th year of studying) were examined. Oral cavity examination was carried out according to the generally accepted method. The level of oral hygiene was determined by Fedorov-Volodkina’s and Green-Vermillion’s indices. The research was conducted in the each age period separately and in age groups corresponding to 6-9 years (group I - elementary school), 10-13 years (group II - secondary school), 14-16 years (group III - high school). Statistical processing of the obtained data was carried out using the Student’s method. The results were considered significant at p &lt;0.05.&#x0D; Analysis of oral hygiene level according to Fedorov-Volodkіna’s technique revealed that children aged 6 to 9 years (I group) had “unsatisfactory” oral hygiene level. The research of each age period reveals that only children of 9 years old take care after their oral cavities properly. We have detected significant differences of oral hygiene level of children with caries and with intact teeth. The worst oral hygiene level was observed in children of 6 years old affected by caries.&#x0D; In children 10-13 years old (Group II) the average index of oral hygiene is 2.20 ± 0.08 points which corresponds to unsatisfactory level. This is a slightly better index comparing to the previous age group. At the every age, the hygiene index in children affected by caries is worse comparing to those who aren’t affected by it (p &lt;0,05). In children from the high school affected by caries the level of of the oral cavity hygiene ranges from 2,27 ± 0,09 in 11 years to 2,60 ± 0,21 in 10 years. These results correspond to the unsatisfactory level, but probable age differences were not discovered. Children without caries have “satisfactory” level of oral hygiene in 10 years and 11 years old and “good” level at 12 and 13 years. Thus, we observe the improvement of oral hygiene level in children with increasing of their age, especially for those with intact teeth comparing to the primary schoolchildren.&#x0D; High school children (Group III) also had an unsatisfactory average hygiene index (2.34 ± 0.10 points) and unsatisfactory rates of caries for children, which corresponded to the indices of I and II observed groups. In children who had no carious lesions detected the level o oral f hygiene at 14, 15 and 16 years was “good”. This fact indicates improvement of manual skills on oral health care of high school children.&#x0D; For more objective study concerning the oral hygiene cavity of different children, the Green-Vermillion’s index was also used. It makes possible assessment the state of the entire oral cavity.&#x0D; The average index of oral hygiene in children of the Ist group corresponds to the average value and is evaluated as “satisfactory” state of oral hygiene (Table 2). In children with caries (1.29 ± 0.09 points) and with intact teeth (0.99 ± 0.04 points) we observe the corresponding clinical situation. Significant changes were found in children of 9 years with intact teeth comparing to 6, 7 and 8 years old children. Thus, we observe an improvement of oral hygiene skills in children from elementary school.&#x0D; Children without caries lesions of the ІІnd and ІІІrd research groups have “satisfactory” and “good” of oral hygiene level. For those with caries in all age periods the result is “satisfactory”. The index of oral hygiene for children with and without caries have significant difference.&#x0D; In order to assess the level of oral hygiene objectively the preference should be given to Green-Vermillion’s index. Particular attention should be paid to the level of oral hygiene of children from elementary school pupils, since it is worse comparing to the oral hygiene level of children from secondary and high school. We do not observe a significant improvement in oral hygiene in senior children comparing to ones from secondary school. This causes the necessity in constant education and control over oral cavity care in schoolchildren.

PENGEMBANGAN BOOKLET DAN VIDEO EDUKASI KESEHATAN GIGI DALAM MENURUNKAN DERAJAT KEBERSIHAN GIGI DAN MULUT PADA ANAK KELAS V SD

Upaya peningkatan kesehatan gigi dan mulut dapat dilakukan dengan tindakan preventif dan kuratif. Upaya preventif atau pencegahan penyakit gigi dan mulut mendapat prioritas utama.Insiden penyakit gigi yang tinggi pada masyarakat di wilayah Pondok Meja belum tertangani secara optimal. Rendahnya tingkat pendidikan mendukung kurangnya kesadaran akan pentingnya kesehatan gigi dan mulut masyarakat. Latar belakang ini menyebabkan kurangnya kemauan untuk melakukan perawatan penyakit gigi dan mulut khususnya anak usia dini baik di puskesmas maupun instansi kesehatan yang lain. &#x0D; Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengembangan booklet dan video edukasi kesehatan gigi dalam menurunkan derajat kebersihan gigi dan mulut pada Anak Kelas V SD. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian Quasi eksperimen dan pengumpulan data dari data primer yang diperoleh dari observasi derajat kebersihan gigi dan mulut (OHI-S), dan perilaku kesehatan gigi dan pengisian kuesioner. Sampel sebanyak 80 orang.&#x0D; Hasil penelitian telah dihasilkan booklet dan video edukasi kesehatan gigi dan mulut dalam menurunkan derajat kebersihan gigi dan mulut pada anak kelas V SD. Dari analisis booklet dan video edukasi kesehatan gigi efektif dalam menurunkan derajat kebersihan gigi dan mulut pada anak kelas V SD ditunjukkan dengan nilai signifikansi pada 0,000 (p &lt; 0,05). Disarankan tenaga kesehatan gigi dalam melaksanakan pelayanan asuhan agar menerapkan edukasi kesehatan gigi dengan menggunakan booklet dan video pada anak kelas V SD.

Early childhood caries among 3- to 5-year-old children in Hong Kong

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of dental caries among 3- to 5-year-old children in Hong Kong and to investigate the factors associated with their dental caries status. Seven kindergartens in Hong Kong were selected using stratified random sampling. The 3- to 5-year-old kindergarten children were invited to join the study. The participants' parents were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their children's demographic and socio-economic backgrounds, their dental habits and their own dental knowledge. Dental caries experience was measured using the decayed, missing and filled primary teeth (dmft) index. The visible plaque index was adopted for recording oral hygiene. The relationships between caries experience and children's demographic backgrounds, dental habits, oral hygiene and parental dental knowledge were studied using a zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression analysis. Among the 1,204 participating preschool children, the overall prevalence of dental caries (dmft > 0) was 46%. The mean dmft score was 2.1 ± 3.4. The prevalences of dental caries among the 3-, 4- and 5-year-old children were 38%, 43% and 55%, respectively. ZINB regression analysis revealed that the study children who were boys, came from families with lower incomes, had dental visit experiences, had higher plaque scores and had parents with lower levels of dental knowledge, had higher dmft scores (P < 0.05). Dental caries is prevalent among preschool children in Hong Kong. The caries experiences of the study children are associated with gender, family income, parental dental knowledge, dental visit experience and oral hygiene.

Body mass index and dental caries experience in Nepalese schoolchildren.

The aim was to investigate the severity of untreated dental caries among Nepalese schoolchildren and its association with their body mass index (BMI) using IOTF, WHO and Nepalese growth reference systems. This school-based clinical cross-sectional study was conducted with three WHO index age groups (5- to 6-, 12- and 15-year-olds) in 18 out of 75 districts of Nepal, selected using stratified random sampling. A total of 1135 schoolchildren were included in the study. A validated structured questionnaire was used to assess the children's oral hygiene practices and dietary habits. Clinical oral examinations investigated the status of untreated dental caries in primary and permanent teeth (dt/DT) along with its consequences (pufa/PUFA). Later, the grade of severity of untreated dental caries (GUDC) was determined using both dt/DT and pufa/PUFA. Height (cm), weight (kg), waist circumference (cm) and hip circumference (cm) were measured, and the body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. The findings were presented as proportions, and the chi-square test was performed to compare differences between groups. Generalized linear mixed models with random effects assessed the association between the severity of untreated dental caries and the BMI. According to the IOTF, WHO and Nepalese growth reference systems, the overall proportions of children with a low BMI were 38.6%, 15.4% and 12.8%, and those with a high BMI were 7.9%, 4.6% and 8.4%, respectively. Untreated dental caries was common among the youngest age group and those with infrequent tooth brushing habits or frequent consumption of sweet bakery products, sweets or candy, or tea with sugar. Neither a low nor a high BMI was associated either with dt + DT or with pufa + PUFA, after adjusting for confounders. However, both a low and a high BMI (all three references) were associated with the severity of dental caries or GUDC. Regardless of the growth reference system used, children with either low or high BMI may be at risk of developing untreated dental caries lesions and related consequences. Both underweight and overweight/obese and dental caries share common risk factors, mostly dietary. Preventive and intervention approaches/strategies such as behavioural and dietary modifications should be implemented to improve both children's oral health and their nutrition in Nepal.

Erosive tooth wear among preschool children in Hong Kong.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of erosive tooth wear among 3- to 5-year-old children in Hong Kong and to determine the effect of socio-economic factors, dental habits, and oral hygiene on their dental erosive wear status. Stratified random sampling was adopted. Their parents were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their children's backgrounds. A single examiner evaluated the children for erosive tooth wear using Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) criteria. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between erosive wear and the children's socio-economic factors, dental habits, and oral hygiene. 1204 children participated in this study. Prevalence of erosive tooth wear (BEWE score>0) was 14.9%. Among these, 153 children (12.8%) had initial wear, 21 children (1.8%) had distinct tooth loss, and five (0.4%) had severe erosive wear. Prevalence of erosive wear among the 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children was 10.7%, 15.0%, and 17.7%, respectively. Increasing age, the low education of mother and high plaque scores were risk factors of erosive wear (P<0.05). Prevalence of erosive tooth wear is low among preschool children in Hong Kong. The erosive tooth wear prevalence increased with increasing age, lower education of mother, and poorer oral hygiene.

Apps for oral hygiene in children 4 to 7 years: Fun and effectiveness.

BackgroundNowadays apps in preschool age are largely used in learning improvement. The aim of this work was to test effectiveness of apps in improving oral hygiene in children patients aged from 4 to 7 years and evaluating correlation between parents educational attainment and children oral hygiene.Material and Methods100 patients aged from 4 to 7 years were randomly assigned by an external office in the study group (SG: 32 females, 18 males) and in the control group (CG: 28 females and 22 males). Plaque index (PI) and carious lesions localisation were detected. At baseline all patients and one of the parents were instructed at chair-side about the proper oral hygiene techniques. SG patients were also given app as an aid in oral hygiene practice. Follow-up was 12 months. Measurements were made every three months at chair-side visits. Information about children compliance in oral hygiene and educational level of parents were obtained by questionnaires at t0 and after 12 months.ResultsSG patients showed stronger oral hygiene and PI lower than those in CG. Questionnaire showed higher compliance of SG patients and parents educational level seemed to affect children oral hygiene.ConclusionsApps in children allowed achieving encouraging results with improvement of oral hygiene and health. Key words:Apps, oral hygiene compliance, children oral hygiene, motivation, educational attainment.