Assessment of Parental Knowledge and Behaviour Regarding the Oral Hygiene of Preschool Children

Abstract

In young age, oral health is strongly influenced by the primary caregivers’ attitude towards oral health. Parental factors such as socioeconomic status, education level, and dental anxiety of the parent may play a role in their knowledge about dental hygiene practices. Aim and objectives: The objective of this paper is to identify the gaps in parental knowledge regarding children's oral hygiene and to highlight the influence that variables such as the parent's level of education, fear of the dentist, or even gender may have on their knowledge about dental caries, tooth eruption and oral health habits.  Material and methods: The present work is an analytical cross-sectional study of parental attitude towards oral health of their children, aged between 0 and 6 years. Data collection was done by questionnaire and the sample population included 50 respondents and the results were statistically analysed. Results: Regarding the parent’s level of knowledge about dental eruption and oral health practices, no statistically significant differences were identified between the two sexes (p=0.853), between different levels of education (p=0.628), and also the absence or presence of parents' fear of the dentist and their level of knowledge are not correlated (p=0.723).  However, the differences between dental fear of parents and their children proved to be statistically significant according to the chi-square test (p<0.001). Conclusions:  The study showed that the parent's gender, level of education and fear of the dentist do not influence their knowledge about dental caries, eruption of temporary teeth, eruption of permanent teeth and oral health. However, there seems to be a correlation between the dental fear of the parent and that of the children, and also between oral hygiene practices of parents and their children.