Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Oral health is crucial for caries prevention. Research reported variations in oral health practices among countries and individuals. Therefore, this study aims to examine and compare oral hygiene practices among children aged 3 to 11 years old across five areas of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study includes healthy children aged 3 to 11 from five areas/regions of Saudi Arabia. A self-administered, validated parental questionnaire was constructed according to the WHO Oral Health Questionnaire for children, which inquires about the child's socio-demographic factors, oral health evaluation, and oral hygiene practice. RESULTS: Out of the 1516 parents who participated, 21.2% reported their children brushing twice a day. Regression analysis found that the first-born children and those who visited a dentist displayed a significantly higher adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for parents reporting that their child practices oral health care compared to only children (AOR: 2.837; P = 0.016) and to those who did not visit a dentist in the last 12 months (AOR: 2.989; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study highlights that only 21.2% of parents reported their children practicing excellent oral hygiene by brushing twice a day. This underscores the importance of early dental visits, customized interventions, and prevention programs that account for regional and demographic factors, such as birth order, to effectively promote oral health.
Source: BMC Oral Health
Authors: Heba Jafar Sabbagh, Ibtesam Omar Alzain
Institution: King Abdulaziz University
Language: English
Subfield: Periodontics
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,090
OpenAlex ID: W4402622699