Preventing dental caries in children: why improving children's oral health is everybody's business

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 536-542
Author(s):  
Lisa Clarke ◽  
Claire Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
Children’S Oral Health

scholarly journals The impact of a school-based tooth-brushing program on dental caries: a cross-sectional study

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuri Tashiro ◽  
Keiko Nakamura ◽  
Kaoruko Seino ◽  
Shiro Ochi ◽  
Hiroshi Ishii ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Tooth Brushing ◽  
Permanent Teeth ◽  
Socioeconomic Characteristics ◽  
School Based ◽  
The Impact ◽  
5Th Grade ◽  
Children’S Oral Health

Abstract Background Promotion of oral health in children is recognized as one of the components of health-promoting schools (HPSs). However, few studies have addressed supportive school environments for children’s oral health. This study aimed to evaluate the status of dental caries in school children at HPSs, with the objective of examining the impact of a supportive school environment for oral health, considering the lifestyles of individual children and the socioeconomic characteristics of their communities. Methods Data of 2043 5th-grade students in 21 elementary schools in Ichikawa city between 2008 and 2013 were analyzed. Children’s oral health status was evaluated using the decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) index. A self-reported lifestyle questionnaire, a survey of the school environment promoting tooth-brushing, and community socioeconomic characteristics derived from the National Census data were included in the analyses. Bivariate analyses were conducted to evaluate the children’s DMFT status, and zero-inflated negative binominal (ZINB) regression was used to assess the relationships between DMFT and other variables. Results Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent teeth of 5th-grade children (aged 10–11 years) was 33.3%, with a mean DMFT score (± SD) of 0.83 ± 1.50. According to multilevel ZINB regression analysis, children from schools with after-lunch tooth-brushing time showed a higher odds ratio (OR) for excess zero DMFT (OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.00–2.15, P = 0.049) as compared to those from schools without it. Neither bivariate analysis nor ZINB model analysis revealed any significant influence of children’s gender or use of a toothpaste with fluoride. Conclusions The school-based environment supportive of oral health was significantly associated with a zero DMFT status in children. School-based efforts considering the socioeconomic characteristics of the area warrant attention even with declining prevalence of dental caries.

scholarly journals Neighbourhood characteristics and children’s oral health: a multilevel population-based cohort study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agatha W van Meijeren-van Lunteren ◽  
Joost Oude Groeniger ◽  
Eppo B Wolvius ◽  
Lea Kragt
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
Open Data ◽  
Multilevel Modelling ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Dental Services ◽  
Neighbourhood Characteristics ◽  
Children’S Oral Health

Abstract Background To understand determinants of oral health inequalities, multilevel modelling is a useful manner to study contextual factors in relation to individual oral health. Several studies outside Europe have been performed so far, however, contextual variables used are diverse and results conflicting. Therefore, this study investigated whether neighbourhood level differences in oral health exist, and whether any of the neighbourhood characteristics used were associated with oral health. Methods This study is embedded in The Generation R Study, a prospective cohort study conducted in The Netherlands. In total, 5 960 6-year-old children, representing 158 neighbourhoods in the area of Rotterdam, were included. Data on individual and neighbourhood characteristics were derived from questionnaires, and via open data resources. Caries was assessed via intraoral photographs, and defined as decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft). Results Differences between neighbourhoods explained 13.3% of the risk of getting severe caries, and 2% of the chance of visiting the dentist yearly. After adjustments for neighbourhood and individual characteristics, neighbourhood deprivation was significantly associated with severe dental caries (OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.02–2.15), and suggestive of a low odds of visiting the dentist yearly (OR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.56–1.18). Conclusions Childhood caries and use of dental services differs between neighbourhoods and living in a deprived neighbourhood is associated with increased dental caries and decreased yearly use of dental services. This highlights the importance of neighbourhoods for understanding differences in children’s oral health, and for targeted policies and interventions to improve the oral health of children living in deprived neighbourhoods.

scholarly journals The Children’s Oral Health Initiative: An intervention to address the challenges of dental caries in early childhood in Canada’s First Nation and Inuit communities

2016 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. e188-e193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kavita R. Mathu-Muju ◽  
James McLeod ◽  
Mary Lou Walker ◽  
Martin Chartier ◽  
Rosamund L. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
First Nation ◽  
Health Initiative ◽  
Children’S Oral Health

scholarly journals Validation of the Thai Version of Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (Th-ECOHIS)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pattarawadee Leelataweewud ◽  
Varangkanar Jirarattanasopha ◽  
Chantana Ungchusak ◽  
Warangkana Vejvithee
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
Early Childhood Caries ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Impact Scale ◽  
Test Retest Reliability ◽  
Children’S Oral Health

Abstract Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) has been prevalent in Thailand. There has never been an appropriate tool to measure its impact on children. Early childhood oral health impact scale (ECOHIS) is a proxy-reported questionnaire developed in the United States for measuring the oral health related quality of life of preschool children and their families and widely adopted into many countries. This study translated it into Thai (Th-ECOHIS) and investigated its psychometric properties in Thai caregivers and their children. Methods: Forward–backward translation by expert was used for the scale development. A face and content validation test were conducted among a group of caregivers to revise and attain the final Th-ECOHIS. Psychometric testing was done on caregivers of 3-year-olds in Bangkok with the interviewer-administered mode. Children’s oral health was indicated by caries experience (decayed, missing and filled primary teeth, dmft). The caregivers answered the Th-ECOHIS and global questions regarding perception of their children’s oral health. Reliability was assessed by measuring internal consistency and reproducibility using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Test-retest reliability was managed at 2-week interval in 10% of samples using the intraclass correlation coefficient calculated by two-way analysis of variance. The discriminant validity was tested by the relationship between the severity of dental caries and Th-ECOHIS scores using Kruskal- Wallis test.Results: A total of 214 child-parent pairs participated. Of the 214 children, 22% had ECC (dmft 1-3) and 17.3% had severe ECC (dmft 4 or higher). The mean (SD) dmft score was 1.63 (2.92). All items in the original ECOHIS were retained in the Thai version. The test-retest reliability of Th-ECOHIS was 0.87; internal consistency was 0.85; the total of Th-ECOHIS scores were significantly correlated with the global rating of oral health questions (r = 0.604). The child impact section, family impact section and total Th-ECOHIS scores were significantly associated with the severity of dental caries (p < 0.001).Conclusions: Psychometric evaluation of the Th-ECOHIS demonstrated good reliability and validity and could be used to assess impacts of early childhood caries on quality of life of Thai pre-school children through caregivers and be compared with studies in other languages.

scholarly journals Associations between parental skills and their attitudes toward importance to develop good oral hygiene skills in their children

Medicina ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giedrius Vanagas ◽  
Žemyna Milašauskienė ◽  
Vilius Grabauskas ◽  
Aušra Mickevičienė
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
Oral Hygiene ◽  
Parental Attitudes ◽  
Tooth Decay ◽  
Parental Efficacy ◽  
Oral Health Behavior ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Children’S Oral Health

Background. For many years, poor oral hygiene and frequent consumption of sugars is known as key behavioral risk factors for oral diseases, such as dental caries and periodontal disease. Parental attitudes toward children’s oral health could be associated with their own oral health skills. We aimed to analyze associations between parental skills and attitudes toward caries development and possibilities to control positive oral health behavior in their children. Material and methods. A cross-sectional study involved 550 parents of 3- to 4-year-old children. A 40-item questionnaire was developed from the Theory of Planned Behavior, Health Belief Model and the Health Locus of Control model, and parental attitudes toward dental caries in their children were analyzed. Results. A total of 397 filled-in questionnaires were collected; the response rate was 72%. Parents with good own oral hygiene skills significantly more often understood the importance of brushing their children’s teeth (χ2=29.8; df=1; P<0.001). Study results highlighted also significant differences in importance to prevent tooth decay (χ2=3.1; df=1; P=0.051), importance to control sugar snacking (χ2=10.6; df=1; P=0.001), and parental perceived seriousness of tooth decay in children (χ2=9.2; df=1; P=0.002) comparing parents with poor and good oral hygiene skills. Differences in parental efficacy to control proper toothbrushing and parental efficacy to control sugar snacking in children were not significant comparing both groups. Conclusions. More than half (61%) of the parents have reported appropriate own oral hygiene skills. Parental attitudes toward children’s oral health were significantly associated with their own oral health behavior and understanding the importance of development of oral hygiene skills in their children.

scholarly journals The odontal status of the permanent primary molar in a group of children aged between 7 and 15 year-old

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 132-136
Author(s):  
Adina Magdalena Bunget ◽  
◽  
Ionela Teodora Dascălu ◽  
C. Dăguci ◽  
P. Mărăşescu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
Clinical Status ◽  
Primary Molar ◽  
Dental Office ◽  
Dmft Index ◽  
Permanent Molars ◽  
Preventive Methods ◽  
Children’S Oral Health ◽  
First Permanent Molars

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of dental caries of first permanent molars in a group of children of Craiova. The sample of the study consisted of 83 children aged 7-15 years. The children were examined in a dental office and for each patient it had been analyzed the clinical status of first permanent molars, and it had been calculated the DMFT index. 332 of first permanent molars of 83 children were examined. The percentage of caries damages of first permanent molars was: 6% of girls and 12% of boys had extractions, 21% of girls and 51% of boys had very damaged molars, 38% of girls and 66% of boys had at least one cavity of first permanent molars. The prevalence of caries increases with age, and the extracted molars were found to the children aged 10-15 years. The prevalence of first permanent molars caries is high. The study reveals high percentage of damaged and lost molars to the children aged under 15 years. It is necessary to apply preventive methods in order to improve children’s oral health.

Study of Parents’ KAP regarding their Children’s Oral Health and the Factors that Influence Children’s Risk of Dental Caries

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lili Xu ◽  
Jing Tian ◽  
Huiyu Wang ◽  
Changhui Shao ◽  
Yibo Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Dental Caries ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Research Subjects ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Dental Examination ◽  
The Status ◽  
Beijing China ◽  
Children’S Oral Health

Abstract Background: Caries can harm children’s physical health, mental health, and overall development. To understand the factors that influence children’s risk of dental caries and the status of dental caries among children in Beijing, China, aged 3–5 years and to determine parents' KAP regarding their children’s oral health.Methods: The research subjects were parents who accompanied their children to a hospital for dental examination, and parents who attended community-based oral-health consultations. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS software.Results: Overall, 41.4% of the children had dental caries. The parents had high demand for dental-caries-related knowledge, and were willing to receive such knowledge from a variety of sources. Logistic regression models showed that factors that impact children’s caries were the mother’s educational background, whether parents regularly acquire oral-health knowledge, and whether children have a dental examination each year.Conclusion: In Beijing, approximately half of the children aged 3–5 years have dental caries. Parents have good knowledge and attitudes regarding their children’s oral health, but their associated actions are insufficient. Therefore, it is necessary to provide parents with assistance regarding managing children’s oral health.

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