Toothbrushing Frequency Research Articles

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Towards ECC Prevention in Thai Medical Personnel

This study aimed to identify the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the prevention of early childhood caries (ECC) amongst medical personnel in well-baby clinics (WBC). Participants were 152 health care professionals, including public health officers, nurses, and physicians, working in WBC in Chonburi Province, Thailand. Participants completed a 6-part online questionnaire asking about demographic data, knowledge and attitudes related to ECC, ECC prevention practices, collaboration, referral systems, and suggestions for improving collaboration between dental and medical personnel in WBC. Whilst most participants had high levels of knowledge about oral care instructions, tooth brushing frequency, and cariogenic foods and beverages, they knew less about recommendations for timing of the first dental visit, fluoride concentration in toothpaste, and the time for exfoliation of primary teeth. There were significant differences in the proportions of correct answers to questions related to the first dental visit and bottle feeding and in total knowledge scores between physicians and other health care professionals. Most participants demonstrated a positive attitude towards ECC prevention. More than 70% of participants always advise parents on oral hygiene and nutrition related to ECC prevention, but only 29% always refer patients to see dental personnel. Attitudes, collaboration, and referral systems were significantly associated with ECC prevention practices, but not knowledge. This study demonstrates that attitudes, collaboration, and referral systems are key contributors to ECC prevention amongst Thai medical personnel. In addition to training programmes, consistent interprofessional policy and referral systems should be formulated, especially in primary care settings.

Association between Dental Diseases and Oral Hygiene Care and the Risk of Dementia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

ObjectivesTo investigate the associations of dental diseases and oral hygiene care with the risk of dementia. DesignRetrospective longitudinal cohort study. Setting and ParticipantsWe conducted a population-based study of individuals in the Korean National Health Insurance System. A total of 2,555,618 participants who underwent cardiovascular and dental screenings in 2008 were included. MethodsDental diseases including periodontal diseases, dental caries, and tooth loss were assessed by dentists. Information on oral hygiene care, including professional dental cleaning and the frequency of tooth brushing, was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Study outcomes were all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD). ResultsPeriodontal diseases [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.07, 95% CI 1.04-1.09], dental caries (aHR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.05), and 8-14 missing teeth (aHR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.12) were associated with an increased risk of all-cause dementia. In contrast, either professional dental cleaning or frequent tooth brushing were associated with decreased risks of all-cause dementia (aHR 0.91, 95% CI 0.89-0.93 each; aHR 0.83, 95% CI 0.80-0.86 for both). The increased risks by dental diseases were reduced by oral hygiene care: periodontal diseases with professional dental cleaning (aHR 0.94, 95% CI 0.91-0.98) or tooth brushing ≥2 times/day (aHR 0.97, 95% CI 0.94-1.00) and 1 to 7 missing teeth with professional dental cleaning (aHR 0.94, 95% CI 0.89-0.98) or tooth brushing ≥2 times/day (aHR 0.92, 95% CI 0.89-0.95). Consistent results were noted for AD and VaD and in various subgroup analyses. Conclusion and ImplicationsPeriodontal disease, dental caries, and a high number of missing teeth were independently associated with a higher risk of dementia. Conversely, improved oral hygiene care, such as professional dental cleaning and frequent tooth brushing, may modify the risk of dementia associated with dental diseases.

Adults' estimated prevalence of healthy behavior in society and self-reported oral health status and behaviors.

To assess Mashhad residents' self-perceived oral health level (OHL) and behaviors in relation to their perceptions of those of their fellow citizens. Cross-sectional telephone survey of 384 individuals recruited from communication centers. The interviews followed a validated Persian schedule with three main sections: 1) background information, 2) questions regarding self-reported OHL, and 3) questions regarding respondents' perceptions of the OHL of their fellow citizens. Participants' mean self-rated OHL and tooth brushing frequency were higher than those of their fellow citizens. The correlation between self-reported and the estimated decayed and missing (DMT) was highest in the middle and lowest in the upper classes. Perceptions of the self- and others' OHL and DMT were positively correlated, with the latter being more so. Education level, age, and tooth brushing frequency affected self-perceived OHL and DMT. Participants' perceived OHL could be explained by their estimation of the general population's oral health. These findings suggest that social norm interventions could nudge improving oral health behaviors.

Social determinants of health for moderate and severe periodontal disease in rural and urban populations.

We assessed the prevalence of moderate and severe periodontitis and its association with social determinants of health in rural and urban population from the State of Chiapas, in Southern Mexico. A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted in 2013 comprising people 20 years and older. The determinants were categorized as proximal (age, sex, indigenous origin, diabetes, smoking, diet), intermediate (level of schooling, occupation, medical and dental care), and structural (type of institution of health care provision, residence area). Periodontal status was assessed using the Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR) Index. In total, 467 persons (72.4% women; mean age 43.0 years [s.d 14.7]) participated. Of them, 76.5% lived in rural areas and 56.7% were of indigenous origin. Participants with moderate and severe periodontitis had a significantly lower toothbrushing frequency (44.1% and 44.8%, respectively), and poorer oral hygiene (90% and 90.3%, respectively) compared with people without periodontitis (29.4% for toothbrushing frequency and 74.5% for oral hygiene). Moderate periodontitis was associated with poor oral hygiene (OR=2.63) and no schooling (OR=1.86). Severe periodontitis was associated with age (OR=1.05), poor oral hygiene (OR=3.99), no schooling (OR=2.08), and the interaction term of rural area and indigenous origin (RM=5.23). Social determinants of health play an important role in the development of periodontitis. Preventive oral health programs should thus focus on the specific social, economic, and geographical context of the population.

A Scoping Review of Early Childhood Caries Experience Assessment Tools Used for Studies in Nigeria

This scoping review provides an overview of the tools used to assess for early childhood caries (ECC) in Nigeria. A search of the literature in African Journals Online, Google Scholar, Medline, and Cochrane database was conducted in June 2023 using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A combination of keywords related to caries risk assessment, preschool children, and evaluation tools was used for the search. Studies reported in English and assessing ECC were extracted. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the information on study characteristics, types of caries assessment tools, and study outcome. Caries assessment tools were divided into behavioural, social, and biological. After screening 964 potential studies, 16 were included in the review. ECC assessment tools were categorised into behavioural (snacking, frequency of consumption of refined carbohydrate in-between-meals, dental service utilisation, frequency of tooth brushing, use of fluoridated toothpaste, breast and bottle feeding patterns and duration), biological (birth rank, age, sex, anthropometric measures, molecular characterisation of isolated organisms, presence of plaque), and social (socioeconomic status of the child’s household, mother’s level of education, maternal income, occupation of the father, maternal decision-making ability). Twelve studies used behavioural assessment tools, 11 used biological, and 11 used social tools. Furthermore, 11 (70.1%) used a combination of tools, four (25.0%) used only biological tools, and one (6.2%) used only behavioural tools to assess ECC experience. No study screened for the risk of caries. In conclusion, we identified the need for comprehensive studies to identify the risk indicators of ECC in Nigeria. This will support the development of a caries risk assessment tool appropriate for the country context.

PREDICTION CLASSIFICATION AND MODELLING USING DECISION TREE WITH ORDERED REGRESSION AND ITS APPLICATION TO SOCIO-BEHAVIORAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH TOOTHBRUSHING FREQUENCY IN CHILDREN

Toothbrushing is considered the best self-care behavior for the prevention of oral diseases. Brushing teeth twice a day is considered the social norm, but the development of such habits is dependent on psychosocial, economic, and environmental factors. Recognizing the significance of statistical modeling in medical sciences, this study will use decision trees and ordinal regression to predict frequency of toothbrushing in children. The methodology will be harmonized in the R syntax. The study illustrated the development of the method using 527 observations from WHO oral health questionnaire for children. Before regression analysis, the clinical relevance and significance of each of the 28 variables will be assessed using decision tree analysis and tested for accuracy. The classification obtained will be used as an input for the ordinal regression modeling. According to decision tree analysis, smoking, maternal education, dietary habits, history of toothache and self-rated tooth health contributed significantly to the children’s overall toothbrushing frequency. These six variables were used as input for ordinal regression analysis and the developed syntax was used to assess the goodness of fit for the model. Our proposed method achieves the highest level of forecasting precision possible. The process is an alternate to ordinal regression modelling as the selection of appropriate variables is based on computational analysis, forecasting the importance of the independent variables chosen for the final model. This process demonstrates the possibility of developing prediction models which can then be used to formulate clinical hypothesis and inform future researchers.

Patient care in the restorative clinic of a public dental school after COVID-19 lockdown

Aim: This study, with the aim of checking some of the changes in patients’ daily habits and their reasons for needing restorative treatment was conducted at a public university immediately on return to attendance after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Methods: This survey consisted of interviews held by applying 2 questionnaires to students and patients. A single researcher collected data in all the restorative dentistry clinics at the university after the return to face-to-face activities in the period between 02/02/2021 and 07/30/2021. Data obtained by means of the questionnaires were submitted to descriptive analysis. Results: Ninety (90) participants answered the patient questionnaire. When considering possible associations between being in social isolation or not, significant values were found for changed type of diet (p=0.0011), frequency of eating (p=0.011) and toothbrushing (p=0.034). Data about 417 restorations were collected and among the reasons for restorative intervention, 33.03% were restoration replacement, 31.87% treatment of primary caries and 24.40% of dental wear/non-carious lesions. Conclusion: Patients who isolated themselves during the pandemic tended to change their eating habits and frequency of oral hygiene. Toothache was the main reason for seeking dental treatment and the replacement of pre-existing restorations was the main reason for restorative treatments.

Impact of Dental Anxiety on Dental Care Routine and Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life in a German Adult Population-A Cross-Sectional Study.

The interaction between dental anxiety and the establishment of a consistent dental care routine has been an ongoing challenge. Unfortunately, there is limited available data concerning the detailed dental care practices of individuals with dental anxiety. Therefore, this study aims to explore how dental anxiety influences dental care habits and oral-health-related quality of life within an adult population. By utilizing the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) and the German Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-G5), we assessed their extent. To evaluate the differences, we performed analyses of variance (Anova), an independent t-test and rank correlation. The findings of this study unveil a significant correlation between elevated DAS scores and reduced frequency of tooth brushing; calculus removal and appointments for professional teeth cleaning. Interestingly; the use of dental floss and mouthwash solution as well as toothbrush hardness appeared to be not significantly affected by dental fear. Moreover, individuals with dental anxiety demonstrated a preference for manual toothbrushes over electric ones. In addition, higher DAS scores were found to be strongly associated with greater OHIP-G5 scores, thus leading to a substantial decline in overall oral health-related quality of life.

Association between gastroesophageal reflux disease and dental caries among adults in the Azar cohort population: A cross-sectional study.

Considering the high prevalence of dental caries in adults, it is necessary to study its risk factors to prevent the disease. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common chronic disease with an increasing incidence that may affect the quality and quantity of saliva. This study aimed to determine the association of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with dental caries according to the DMFT index in the Azar cohort population. This cross-sectional study was performed on data obtained from the enrollment phase of the Azar Cohort Study (ACS), conducted on 15,000 adults aged 35 to 70. Data of 905 subjects with gastroesophageal reflux disease in the ACS-without full denture-together with a control group of 1894 subjects, who were matched in terms of gender and age, were included in this study. Dental caries data and data on GERD, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, individual and nutritional habits, BMI, and toothbrushing frequency were elicited from the databank of the ACS center. A Generalized Linear Models assuming negative binomial distribution with a log-link function was used for analytical statistics to examine the effect of possible confounding variables. The DMFT index in the group with GERD was 15.09±6.18, and for the control group was 15.00±6.07. No statistical association was seen between GERD and dental caries. Among the variables included in the regression analysis, being younger and toothbrushing one or more times per day were associated with a lower DMFT index score. According to the results, having GERD did not increase the risk of dental caries. However, due to the cross-sectional design of the study, the results should be interpreted cautiously. The results showed that oral hygiene is one of the most influential factors in reducing dental caries prevalence.

Profile of Oral Diseases and Associated Factors in the Elderly in the Buea Health District, Cameroon

Background: Demographic projections estimate a future global increase in the number of elderly with increase susceptibility to chronic and life-threatening diseases increases such as poor oral health conditions. This reduces quality of life, as it restricts food choices, affects esthetics and reduces self-esteem among the elderly. The aim of this study was to determine the profile of oral health pathologies of the elderly in the Buea Health District. 
 Materials and Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted in four communities and major health facilities of the Buea Health District. Participants were interviewed to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, determinants of oral health, and oral hygiene behavior. Oral cavity examination was also carried out to assess the oral hygiene behavior of the elderly. The data was analyzed in SPSS version 26.
 Results: Out of 386 participants examined, 372 (96.4%) had at least one oral pathology. Dental caries was most prevalent (67.9%) with mean decay- missing- filled index (DMF) of 14.3 ± 8.7, followed by periodontitis (45.6%), gingivitis (45.6%) and edentulism (39.1%). Determinants of oral pathologies included tooth brushing frequency, health area, level of education, marital status and occupation. The mean score of oral hygiene behavior was 2.88±1.36, with 71.2% of participants with good oral hygiene behavior. There was a significant association between poor oral hygiene behavior and dental caries.
 Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of oral pathologies amongst the elderly of Buea Health District. Poor oral hygiene practice was associated with dental caries which was the most prevalent oral pathology.

Oral Health Behaviors for Young Low-Income Urban Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Analysis.

This research assessed oral health behaviors changes in urban families with young children during the stay-at-home period of the COVID-19 pandemic (Nov 2020-August 2021). Survey data on oral health behaviors were collected in homes at three points before COVID-19, and via phone during COVID-19. A subset of parents and key informants from clinics and social service agencies completed in-depth interviews via video/phone. Of the 387 parents invited, 254 completed surveys in English or Spanish (65.6%) during COVID-19. Fifteen key informant interviews (25 participants) and 21 family interviews were conducted. The mean child age was 4.3 years. Children identified as mainly Hispanic (57%) and Black race (38%). Parents reported increased child tooth brushing frequency during the pandemic. Family interviews highlighted changes in family routines that impacted oral health behaviors and eating patterns, suggesting less optimal brushing and nutrition. This was linked to changed home routines and social presentability. Key informants described major disruptions in oral health services, family fear, and stress. In conclusion, the stay-at-home period of the COVID-19 pandemic was a time of extreme routine change and stress for families. Oral health interventions that target family routines and social presentability are important for families during times of extreme crisis.

Can Frequent Toothbrushing Reduce the Risk of Cirrhosis among Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease? Hints from a Registry-Based Study

Introduction: While poor oral hygiene has been previously associated with an increased risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), its association with hepatic fibrosis remains unclear. Here, we sought to analyze if toothbrushing frequency, an easy-to-assess indicator of oral health habits, would be associated with liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography (TE) in patients with an established diagnosis of NAFLD. Methods: In this registry-based study, LSM was measured in 1,156 patients with NAFLD and analyzed in relation to the self-reported daily frequency of toothbrushing. LSM values ≥12 kPa were considered indicative of cirrhosis. Results: A trend toward a stepwise decrease (cross-sectional p = 0.13) in LSM was found in patients who reported having their teeth brushed more frequently: less than once a day (10.6 ± 8.6 kPa; 13% of the study sample), once a day (9.95 ± 8.40 kPa; 40%), twice a day (9.21 ± 7.63 kPa; 43%), and after every meal (8.91 ± 5.30 kPa; 4%). Patients who brushed their teeth less than once a day had a significantly higher prevalence of LSM values ≥12 kPa (p < 0.05). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, the association of LSM values ≥12 kPa with toothbrushing habits remained statistically significant for less than once a day (odds ratio = 1.69, 95% confidence interval = 1.07−2.66, p = 0.02) with reference to twice a day or after every meal. Conclusion: Among patients with NAFLD, there is an independent association between brushing teeth less than once a day and TE-established cirrhosis.

Impact of migration on oral health outcomes of children in multi-beneficial kindergartens in Nanning, Southern China: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of children’s migration on their oral health outcomes in multi-beneficial kindergartens in Jiangnan District, Nanning, China, and to provide a basis for improving the oral health of migrant children.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 470 children aged 5 years in Jiangnan District, Nanning, Guangxi. A questionnaire was used to collect information on their demographic and socioeconomic background, migration experience, eating habits, oral hygiene behaviours and utilization of dental care services. Dental caries of primary teeth was examined using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) index recommended by the World Health Organization. Dental caries experience and oral health-related behaviours were compared between migrant and resident children. The impact of children’s migration attributes on their oral health outcomes was examined by univariate and multivariate analyses.ResultsAmong the examined children, 52.3% were migrant children. The prevalence of caries among the children in multi-beneficial kindergartens was 78.3%, and the mean number of dmft was 5.73 ± 5.00. The prevalence of caries was 81.7% for migrant children and 74.6% for resident children (p = 0.060). No significant difference was found in the mean numbers of DMFT between migrant children and resident children (5.96 ± 4.81 vs. 5.47 ± 5.20, p = 0.139). There were significant differences in the frequency of tooth brushing (p = 0.023) and parental help with tooth brushing (p = 0.008), typical use of fluoride (p = 0.012), regular dental check-ups (p = 0.003) and experience of dental fillings for caries (p < 0.001) between migrant and resident children. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that among the children with caries, the proportion of resident children who had regular dental check-ups was 1.720 times higher than that of migrant children (95% CI = 1.155 ~ 2.560), and resident children were more likely to have caries filled than migrant children (OR = 3.313, 95% CI = 1.585 ~ 6.927).ConclusionOral health status and oral health behaviours were poor among children in multi-beneficial kindergartens in Nanning, China, and migration might be a significant predictive indicator for the poor utilization of dental care services by children. The government departments should make special policy to promote the children’s oral health in multi-beneficial kindergartens, and invest more to cover the migrant children’s utilization of oral health services.

Factors associated with oral health literacy among users of primary health care

Aim: To analyze associations between sociodemographic factors, self-perception, self-care practices in health with Oral Health Literacy (OHL) levels among users of Primary Health Care (PHC). Methods: A cross-sectional and analytical study was performed in Piracicaba (São Paulo), Brazil, in 2018, with a convenience sample of users of PHC that were aged over 18 years. Data were collected with a questionnaire by a trained dentist in two Family Health Units. The outcome variable was OHL, measured by the OHLA-B instrument, which was dichotomized by median into low (≤8 point) and high (&gt;8 point). The independent variables were sociodemographic conditions (age, sex, self-declared skin color, and education), self-perceived oral health and self-care practices in health (tooth brushing frequency, smoking habits, reason for the last visit to the dentist, and source of health information search). Unadjusted and adjusted analyses were performed between OHL and independent variables for multiple logistic regression model (p≤0.05). Results: The sample consisted of 450 adults. A total of 54.7% had a low OHL. After adjusting for sex and age, OHL was associated with skin color (OR=0.57; 95%CI=0.37-085), educational level (OR=4.92; 95%CI=3.16-7.79), health information from health professionals (OR=2.40; 95%CI=1.42-4.16) and internet (OR=2.88; 95%CI=1.59-5.32), toothbrushing &gt;1 time a day (OR=3.23; 95%CI=1.27-9.92) and smokers (OR=0.42; 95%CI=0.23-0.73). After adjusting for sex, age and income, OHL was associated with (OR=0.63; 95%CI=0.41-096), educational level (OR=4.06; 95%CI=2.57-6.51) and smokers (OR=0.48; 95%CI=0.26-0.84). Conclusions: Low OHL was associated with socioeconomic factors, source of information and smoking. This fact highlights the importance of health professionals to promote OHL.

The relationship between overprotective parenting, toothbrushing practices and children's behaviour during dental treatments in 4 to 11-year-old Dutch children: a cross sectional study.

Overprotective parenting and its impact on child development has gained increasing public attention. This study explored the association between overprotective parenting and behaviour during dental treatments and toothbrushing behaviour of 4 to 11-year-old-children. In this cross-sectional study, caregivers of 4-to-11-year-old children who visited a referral practice for dental treatment in Leiden, The Netherlands, completed a questionnaire about overprotective parenting, using the Parental Overprotection Measure (POM), and children's toothbrushing behaviour. The dentist and dental assistant used the Venham scale to assess children's behaviour during dental treatments. Associations between the POM and the Venham scale and toothbrushing variables, were analysed using multiple ordered logistic regression. The sample included 96 children (mean age: 7.3 ± 2.1years, 59 boys). Overprotective parenting (higher POM scores) was significantly associated with more disruptive behaviour of children during dental treatments (higher Venham categories) (OR: 1.08 (95% CI 1.04; 1.13)) and lower caregiver self-efficacy regarding toothbrushing (OR 0.96 (95% CI 0.93; 0.99)), after adjustment for confounders. No associations between overprotective parenting and toothbrushing frequency or skipping toothbrushing were found. Overprotective parenting has been associated with children's negative behaviour during dental treatments and lower caregiver self-efficacy regarding toothbrushing in primary school children who are treated in a referral practice for paediatric dental care.

Oral self-care, pneumococcal vaccination, and pneumonia among Japanese older people, assessed with machine learning.

Pneumonia is a leading cause of death worldwide. It is a particularly serious burden in older people, as they tend to have a weakened immune response. Identifying the role of oral self-care and pneumococcal vaccination in healthy, independent older people can aid pneumonia prevention among them. This study investigated the associations between oral self-care, pneumococcal vaccination, and pneumonia experience among independent older people. This cross-sectional study used data from the 2016 Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES). We used machine learning to examine the association between oral self-care and the experience of pneumonia over the previous year, stratified by pneumococcal vaccination. The covariates were sex, age, years of education, equivalent annual income, medical history of stroke, oral health status (choking, dryness, number of teeth), and smoking status. The analysis included 17,217 independent older people aged 65 and over. The prevalence of pneumonia experienced among those who brushed their teeth once or less per day was 4.5% and 5.3% for those with and those without pneumococcal vaccinations, respectively. In the unvaccinated group, the odds ratio of pneumonia experience for those who brushed their teeth once or less a day was 1.57 (95% CI 1.15-2.14) compared to those who brushed their teeth three or more times a day. By contrast, there was no significant association between the frequency of toothbrushing and the experience of pneumonia among people who received pneumococcal vaccination. Oral care influenced the experience of pneumonia among independent older people who did not receive pneumococcal vaccination.

Investigating the Connection between Parental Education and Children’s Oral Health: An Extensive Examination in Western Romania for 11–14-Year-Olds

(1) Background: This research is part of the Romanian oral health survey for children, aiming to determine correlations between the oral health status of 11–14-year-old schoolchildren and their parents’ educational levels, taking into account preventive behaviour and socioeconomic parameters. (2) Methods: a representative sample of 133 schoolchildren (72 boys and 61 girls), average age 12.26 ± 0.6 years, was examined by calibrated dentists. After obtaining ethical approval, a visual examination using ICDAS criteria was performed to classify visual caries lesion severity. Statistical analyses of the data were performed using SPSS 23, Spearman’s rank correlation and the Pearson correlation. (3) Results: Mean DMFT within the sample was 2.93 ± 2.70. High school was the most common level of education completed by the parents. A positive relationship was recorded between the mother’s level of education and the frequency of toothbrushing in children (rs = 0.02 *, p &lt; 0.01), as well as with oral hygiene aids (rs = 0.17 *, p &lt; 0.05). A negative significant correlation resulted between D3T index and the mother’s level of education (rs = −0.26 **, p &lt; 0.01), as well as with the father’s education (rs = −0.17 **, p &lt; 0.01). (4) Conclusions: The results of this study show that high caries prevalence could be associated with low educational level and socio-economic county-level variables, having an impact on the presence and severity of such lesions, as well as the absence of existing treatments.

Association between birth-related factors and periodontitis in women: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2018.

Adult women experience several changes in physiological status, such as pregnancy and childbirth, during their life cycle. This study analyses the association between birth-related factors (the number of childbirths, abortions and miscarriages) and periodontitis using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which represents Korean adults. The study used data from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI and VII (2013-2018) and included 10,072 women 19 years or older, with no missing data on the variables assessed. Periodontitis was defined according to the Community Periodontal Index (CPI) criteria. Multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusting for age, household income, education, alcohol consumption, smoking, stress, body mass index, waist circumference, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, an oral examination within 1 year, daily tooth brushing frequency, hygiene products and self-perceived oral health as identified via logistic regression analyses, was performed to determine the association between birth-related variables and periodontitis. In the crude model, the odds ratio (OR) showed a significantly increased risk of periodontitis (CPI ≥ 3) and severe periodontitis (CPI = 4) based on the number of childbirths, abortions and miscarriages (p < .05). After covariate adjustment, periodontitis (CPI ≥ 3) was associated with the number of childbirths (1: OR = 1.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.47-2.50; 2: OR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.57-2.61; ≥3: OR = 2.11; 95% CI: 1.60-2.78). Furthermore, severe periodontitis (CPI = 4) was also associated with the number of childbirths (1: OR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.24-4.38; 2: OR = 2.99; 95% CI: 1.62-5.52; ≥3: OR = 3.34; 95% CI: 1.79-6.21). The findings of this large-scale, nationally representative study suggest that the number of childbirths is associated with the severity of periodontitis. However, the relationship between the number of abortions and miscarriages and periodontitis (CPI ≥ 3) or severe periodontitis (CPI = 4) is not significant.

Comparative Evaluation of Oral Health and Behavior Changes in Children after Motivational Interviewing and Traditional Method of Oral Health Education among Mothers: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

To analyze the effectiveness of motivational interviewing (MI) compared to traditional health education among mothers in improving children's oral health and behavioral changes. The search strategy was framed using relevant MeSH terms and free text terms in PubMed, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for the articles published in the English language between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2020. Only randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled trials, and clinical trials comparing MI with traditional health education were included. Cochrane risk of bias (ROB) tool was used for the quality assessment of the included studies, and Review Manager 5.3 software was used for computing results. A total of 9 studies were included for qualitative synthesis and 5 for quantitative synthesis from an initial search of 3,708 articles. The cumulative mean difference for dental caries was -1.03 [95% confidence interval (CI)-1.37-0.70] p < 0.00001, for frequency of toothbrushing Pooled odds ratio was 1.69 (95% CI-0.68-4.25) p = 0.26 and for in-between snacking was 0.83 with (95% CI-0.48-1.44) p = 0.51. A significant difference was present in dental caries among children with mothers in the MI group, while no difference was present in in-between snacking and frequency of toothbrushing between both the groups. Motivational interviewing (MI) prove to be significantly effective in reducing newer dental caries for shorter duration; however, long-term effectiveness could not be assessed. Motivational interviewing (MI) can be considered an effective and feasible method for oral health education to mothers, which will, in turn, improve the oral health of their children. International prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) under registration code. CRD42021224278. Karande PH, Shetty VB, Vinay V, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Oral Health and Behavior Changes in Children after Motivational Interviewing and Traditional Method of Oral Health Education among Mothers: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(3):464-473.

Association between neighborhood disadvantage and children's oral health outcomes in urban families in the Chicago area.

The prevalence of childhood caries in urban Chicago, compared with national and state data, indicates that neighborhood context influences oral health. Our objective was to delineate the influence of a child's neighborhood on oral health outcomes that are predictive of caries (toothbrushing frequency and plaque levels). Our study population represents urban, Medicaid-enrolled families in the metropolitan Chicago area. Data were obtained from a cohort of participants (child-parent dyads) who participated in the Coordinated Oral Health Promotion (CO-OP) trial at 12 months of study participation (N = 362). Oral health outcomes included toothbrushing frequency and plaque levels. Participants' neighborhood resource levels were measured by the Area Deprivation Index (ADI). Linear and logistic regression models were used to measure the influence of ADI on plaque scores and toothbrushing frequency, respectively. Data from 362 child-parent dyads were analyzed. The mean child age was 33.6 months (SD 6.8). The majority of children were reported to brush at least twice daily (n = 228, 63%), but the mean plaque score was 1.9 (SD 0.7), classified as "poor." In covariate-adjusted analyses, ADI was not associated with brushing frequency (0.94, 95% CI 0.84-1.06). ADI was associated with plaque scores (0.05, 95% CI 0.01-0.09, p value = 0.007). Findings support the hypothesis that neighborhood-level factors influence children's plaque levels. Because excessive plaque places a child at high risk for cavities, we recommend the inclusion of neighborhood context in interventions and policies to reduce children's oral health disparities. Existing programs and clinics that serve disadvantaged communities are well-positioned to support caregivers of young children in maintaining recommended oral health behaviors.