[A new protocol for use and storage of tooth-brushing material for school children]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the storage and distribution of toothbrushing material for school children. Twenty individuals responsible for the collective oral hygiene of school children from Bauru - SP and São José dos Campos - SP participated in the first stage of the study, answering 2 questionnaires about five different kits for use by school children. The statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon (p<0,05). In the second stage, the amount of toothpaste or liquid cleanser applied to the toothbrush by 178 school children aged 4 to 8 years from 2 cities from the state of São Paulo (Bauru e Bariri) was weighed using a portable balance. The statistical analysis was obtained by using Pearson's correlation coefficient and analysis of covariance (p <0,05). Kit 5 obtained levels of satisfaction and high satisfaction when compared with the others kits (1 - 4). The school children from Bauru (0.41g) used smaller amounts of toothpaste than the school children from Bariri (0.48g). The average of the amount of liquid cleanser applied by the sample was 0.15g. The "drop technique" (liquid cleanser) was considered practical for dispensing a small, standardized quantity of the product. Kit 5 was considered a good alternative for establishing a collective oral health protocol in the Brazilian health system.