The role of parental education in the dental health behavior of Turkish secondary school children

Abstract

SummaryBackground/Aim: Parents are usually the major factor influencing children’s development of routine oral health behavior. A higher education level of the parents is generally associated with having a more positive influence on their children’s health habits and motivation to maintain healthy dentition. From this perspective, the aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of certain habits influencing dental health, such as toothbrushing, regular visits to the dentist, and changing toothbrushes, in a group of Turkish secondary school children, and to explore its relation to the education level of their mothers and fathers.Material and Methods: The study consisted of the use of a questionnaire designed to collect demographic information, oral health behavior of the children, and the parents’ education level. Demographic characteristics and oral health behavior of the children were asked of the children in a face-to-face interview by one investigator. Only the parents’ education level was asked of the children’s parents.Results: The mean age of the 444 children was 11.66 ± 0.98. According to chi-square testing applied, there was a statistically significant correlation between the parents’ education level and their children’s dental visit frequency (p< 0.05), whereas there was no statistically significant link between the parents’ education level and the frequency of the children’s toothbrushing and replacing their toothbrushes (p> 0.05).Conclusions: Irrespective of the education level of their parents, positive oral health attitudes and behavior were not observed in Turkish secondary school children.

The role of fathers in feeding, care, and dental hygiene practices of children aged <6 years: A rapid scoping review

“…It has also been reported that fathers’ greater frequency of toothbrushing is associated with children’s lower scores on the Decayed, Missing due to caries, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index [39]. However, this finding has not been consistent across previous studies, as Karaaslan et al found that while parental educational level was associated with children’s frequency of dentist visits, there was no significant association between parental educational level and child toothbrushing frequency [40]. This suggests that further research must be done on this topic to clarify the relationship between parental education and children’s oral health and toothbrushing habits.…”

<strong>Differences in the motivation for seeking oral health treatment among parents of kindergarten students</strong>

“…These results differ from previous studies, which reported that parents with higher socioeconomic status tend to be more motivated in seeking dental and oral health care for their children. 16,39,40 This contrast may be because parents from middle to lower socioeconomic status are also highly motivated to obtain knowledge and information about dental and oral health through the internet or other easily accessible media. In contrast, parents from middle to lower socioeconomic status are not too concerned with dental and oral health, usually they are only concerned with the general health of their child.…”

<p><strong>Hubungan penilaian diri dan perilaku kebersihan gigi mulut pada remaja dan ibu</strong></p><p><strong><em>The correlation between dental hygiene behavior and self-assessed oral hygiene of adolescents and mothers in Desa Sumber Jaya Bekasi Regency</em></strong></p>

“…48 Inisiatif ibu merupakan hal yang menentukan pemeliharaan kebersihan gigi dan mulut anak, utamanya dalam upaya pencegahan dan promotif terhadap masalah kesehatan gigi dan mulut. 50 Perilaku ibu tampak tetap menjadi variabel independen dalam promosi kebersihan gigi dan mulut bagi usia remaja yang proses pembentukan kesadaran dirinya sudah hampir selesai. 48 Ibu merupakan model sosial yang penting dalam pembentukan perilaku kesehatan gigi dan mulut pada masa remaja karena perilaku tersebut akan terbawa hingga dewasa.…”