Oral health knowledge in pre-school children: a survey among parents in central Italy
Background: The aim of this survey was to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of parents about potential oral
health risk factors and correct management of oral hygiene of their preschool children.
Material and Methods: The participation to the survey was proposed to all parents of 3-5 year aged children attending a kindergarten in Campobasso. A self-administered questionnaire was completed to obtain information regarding demographic and education variables, knowledge about caries and its transmission, infant feeding practice,
maternal oral health during pregnancy, parents and children’s oral hygiene habits and risk behaviors (e.g., sharing
cutlery, tasting of baby food, nightly using of baby bottles or pacifier), oral health prevention and role of school.
Results: Overall, the parents of 101 children consented to fill the questionnaire. Data analysis showed that only
24% of respondents was aware of the potential vertical transmissibility of cariogenic bacteria through contaminated
saliva. It is still a common trend from61% of parents tasting food of their child. On 101 children, 30% used pacifier
and 17% used baby bottle with milk during night and among these children 41% for more than 2 years. Parents
reported no toothbrushing for 57% of the children in their first 3 years of life.
Conclusions: From this survey, independently on parents education, it emerges as still nowadays parents are not
fully trained and informed about the management of their child’s oral hygiene and as it’s necessary a parental oral
health promoting program to control children oral health risk status, starting from school.