Maternal Knowledge of Oral Health of Children Aged 1–4 Years

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-120
Author(s):  
Nurit Dagon ◽  
Tal Ratson ◽  
Benjamin Peretz ◽  
Sigalit Blumer

Introduction. Knowledge of oral health (KOH) among mothers has an important influence on their children's oral habits and routines. Lack of maternal KOH had been related to the development of early childhood caries among preschool children. Aim. To assess KOH among mothers of 1–4 year-olds. Study design. Participating mothers completed a 3-part questionnaire on general demographic information, KOH of their children, and ranking of six food items according to their cariogenic potential. Results. Most of the 285 participating mothers had an academic education. Only 47% of the mothers correctly answered seven questions on KOH. The dentist was the main source for KOH. Most of the mothers (94.39%) were aware of the need to brush their children's teeth twice daily. Most of them (72.29%) did not know the correct fluoride concentration in their child's toothpaste. They ranked salty snacks as the least cariogenic food item. Most of the mothers were not aware that snacks and sweetened drinks should be consumed during meals, and two-thirds reported tasting food from their child's spoon. Conclusion. Overall, mothers of toddlers lacked basic knowledge of oral health issues and practices to follow for the prevention of their children's caries.

Author(s):  
Faith Miaomiao Zheng ◽  
Iliana Gehui Yan ◽  
Duangporn Duangthip ◽  
Sherry Shiqian Gao ◽  
Edward Chin Man Lo ◽  
...  

This cross-sectional survey investigated untreated early childhood caries (ECC) and its associated factors among 5-year-old children in Hong Kong. Children were recruited using a multistage sampling method. One dentist examined the children in kindergarten to diagnose untreated ECC (dt) at the cavitation level. Each child’s demographic information, snacking behaviour, and oral health-related practice were collected using a parental questionnaire. The relationships between the untreated ECC and demographic information, snacking behaviours, and oral health-–related practice were analysed by zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression analysis. This survey recruited 404 children. Their dt score was 2.8 ± 3.8. The significant untreated ECC (SiUC) index, which was one-third of the children with the highest dt score, was 7.1 ± 3.6. Their untreated ECC prevalence was 57%, which was associated with the district the child lived in. Most children with untreated ECC (71%, 164/231) had never visited a dentist. Children who brushed without toothpaste had more untreated ECC. Children coming from low-income families and with a lower maternal education level had a higher risk of ECC. In conclusion, untreated ECC was prevalent and unevenly distributed among 5-year-old children in Hong Kong. Its prevalence was associated with toothpaste use, family income, maternal education level and the district they lived in.


Author(s):  
A. BaniHani ◽  
J. Tahmassebi ◽  
F. Zawaideh

Abstract Purpose To assess maternal knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) risk factors and to determine barriers in seeking dental treatment among children with ECC. Methods A total of 600 mothers of healthy children, aged 3–5 years, with ECC attending maternity and child health centres in Jordan completed a questionnaire using face-to-face interviews. ECC was diagnosed clinically by the chief investigator, based on the diagnostic criteria suggested by American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (AAPD), and caries was recorded using dmft index. Results The majority of the children had poor oral health status (99.2%) with a dmft index of 6.04 (± 1.2). Less than third (25.7%) of the mothers believed that their child had poor oral health with more than half (53.3%) not being aware that their child had dental caries. Most of the mothers had poor knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding their children’s oral health (82%). Participants` oral health knowledge was significantly associated with mothers` level of education and profession (p < 0.05). In addition, there was delay in seeking dental treatment for their children by the majority (65.9%) of mothers. Maternal profession, family income and time needed to reach a nearby health centre were found to be significant barriers in seeking dental treatment (p < 0.05). Conclusion The majority of the mothers of children in Jordan with ECC had poor knowledge about their children’s oral health status. Moreover, seeking dental treatment was delayed by a large number of mothers of children with ECC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 18-22
Author(s):  
Subhathira Rajasekaran ◽  
Sham S Bhat ◽  
Vidya Bhat ◽  
Sundeep Hegde K ◽  
Neha Thilak ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Carlos Zaror ◽  
Andrea Matamala‐Santander ◽  
Montse Ferrer ◽  
Fernando Rivera‐Mendoza ◽  
Gerardo Espinoza‐Espinoza ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Priyanka Achalu ◽  
Abhishek Bhatia ◽  
Bathsheba Turton ◽  
Lucy Luna ◽  
Karen Sokal-Gutierrez

As communities worldwide shift from consuming traditional diets to more processed snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), increases in child obesity and tooth decay and persistence of undernutrition are particularly apparent in Latin American countries. Further evidence of shared risk factors between child undernutrition and poor oral health outcomes is needed to structure more effective health interventions for children’s nutrition. This study aims to identify dietary, oral health, and sociodemographic risk factors for child undernutrition and severe early childhood caries (sECC) among a convenience sample of 797 caregiver–child pairs from rural Salvadoran communities. Caregiver interviews on child dietary and oral health practices were conducted, and their children’s height, weight, and dental exam data were collected. Multivariable regression analyses were performed using RStudio (version 1.0.143). Caregiver use of SSBs in the baby bottle was identified as a common significant risk factor for child undernutrition (p = 0.011) and sECC (p = 0.047). Early childhood caries (p = 0.023) was also a risk factor for developing undernutrition. Future maternal–child health and nutrition programs should coordinate with oral health interventions to discourage feeding children SSBs in the baby bottle and to advocate for policies limiting SSB marketing to young children and their families.


2001 ◽  
Vol 51 (S3) ◽  
pp. 235-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ina Nitschke
Keyword(s):  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianbo Li ◽  
Weihua Fan ◽  
Yueshan Zhou ◽  
Linmei Wu ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Dental caries of deciduous teeth (Early Childhood Caries, ECC) has become a crucial oral health problem over the decades in China. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and severity of ECC among preschool children from Guangdong Province, Southern China. In addition, to assess the association of ECC with reported oral health-related behaviors.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Guangdong Province by means of an equal-sized, stratified, multistage random sampling method. According to the standard for clinical dentition examination of the WHO 2013 criteria, the presence of ECC was determined by the dmft (decayed-missing-filled tooth) index using a CPI (Community Periodontal Index) probe. A questionnaire about caries-related factors was completed by each of the participants’ parents or grandparents through a face-to-face and one-on-one interview. Then, t-test, Chi2 tests, One-Way ANOVA served for statistical analysis, and logistic regression analysis as well as covariance analysis were executed to identify potential associated factors for ECC.Results: There were 2592 3- to 5-year-old preschool children. The prevalence (% dmft >0) of ECC was 68.3 (95% CI: 66.5-70.1), the mean dmft was 4.36 (95% CI: 4.17-4.55), and the filled rate was 1.2%. In multivariable modeling, associated factors for both prevalence and mean dmft were older age, rural areas, consumption of sweets before sleep, dental visit history, low household income, and low parental education level. Initiating toothbrushing after 3 years of age and being exclusively/ predominantly breastfed indicated only the prevalence; being female and frequently consuming sweetened milk/powdered milk indicated only the mean dmft.Conclusions: The preschool children in Guangdong Province experienced a significant amount of ECC. More attention should be given to children’s dental health for deciduous teeth. Associated factors for ECC included demographics, oral health measures, dietary factors, and socioeconomic factors.


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