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Changing use and knowledge of fluoride toothpaste by schoolchildren, parents and schoolteachers in Beijing, China
Min Liu1, Ling Zhu, BoXue Zhang
1Peking University, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Department of Preventive Dentistry, Beijing, China.
Objective:
To assess the oral hygiene practices, current use of and knowledge about fluoride toothpaste among schoolchildren, parents, and schoolteachers; to describe the attitudes of parents and schoolteachers in relation to improving schoolchildren's oral health.
Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Participants:
1,557 schoolchildren, 1,132 parents, and 352 schoolteachers were recruited by multistage stratified sampling procedure in a district of Beijing, China.
Methods:
Self-completed questionnaire.
Results:
The percentage of schoolchildren, parents, and schoolteachers who actually used fluoride toothpaste was 88%, 86%, and 87%, respectively, and 74-78% of the respondent groups brushed their teeth twice a day or more. 64% of schoolchildren, 73% of parents, and 74% of schoolteachers confirmed the caries preventive effect of fluoride toothpaste. Toothpaste recommended by oral health professional organisations was preferred by respondents - particularly by schoolchildren - when purchasing toothpaste (86%). 93% of parents and 56% of schoolteachers recognised their important role in promoting children's oral health; however, their lack of knowledge seemed to be a major obstacle in fulfilling this role.
Conclusions:
The use of fluoride toothpaste in Beijing appears to have increased during the past decade. In addition to mass communication comprehensive school-based oral health programmes are needed to continuously promote the use of fluoride toothpaste among schoolchildren.
