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Use of Water by Schoolchildren: Impact of Indirectly Supervised Daily Toothbrushing-A Pilot Study
Flávia Martão Flório1, Letícia Dos Santos Klee2, Ana Paula Brandão Ramos3
1Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculdade São Leopoldo Mandic, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Department of Public Health, São Leopoldo Mandic School of Dentistry and Research Center, Campinas, Brazil.
Insights
Implementing daily toothbrushing programs for children did not significantly alter water consumption. This pilot study suggests that integrating oral hygiene education with water conservation awareness is feasible in schools.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Supervised toothbrushing programs are crucial for children's oral health.
- Water conservation is an essential practice, especially in educational settings.
- The potential impact of toothbrushing routines on water usage in schools requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of daily indirectly supervised toothbrushing on water consumption among schoolchildren.
- To assess if integrating oral hygiene education with water conservation practices influences water usage.
- To provide data for enhancing educational programs in schools regarding sustainable health practices.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal, quantitative, and analytical pilot study was conducted in a social center with children aged 5-14 years.
- Water consumption was measured using calibrated hydrometers over 25-day periods before, during, and after an educational intervention.
- The intervention included supervised toothbrushing and recreational education on rational water use, analyzed using mixed models for repeated measures.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant changes in daily water consumption per child were observed across the different study phases (T0, T1, T2, T3).
- Average water consumption remained consistent, indicating that toothbrushing routines did not lead to increased water usage.
- The findings suggest that educational interventions can be implemented without negatively impacting water resources.
Conclusions:
- Introducing daily indirectly supervised toothbrushing into school routines, even with recreational and sustainable health education, does not adversely affect water consumption.
- This study highlights the importance of incorporating water-saving measures into supervised toothbrushing programs.
- The findings support the enhancement of educational and pedagogical activities in schools by demonstrating the feasibility of integrating oral hygiene and water conservation.
Aim:
This present longitudinal, quantitative, and analytical pilot study evaluated the impact of daily indirectly supervised toothbrushing on water consumption.
Materials And Methods:
The study was carried out in a social center that provided care to children aged 5-14 years in Campinas in the state of São Paulo. Calibrated hydrometers were installed on taps used by the children, and the daily volume of water used was measured for 25 school days (T0). An educational program was then implemented (T1), where supervised toothbrushing was explained, encouraged, and put into action. The next phase (T2) incorporated a recreational approach to the rational use of water, and the consumption was measured for another 25 school days. After six months (T3) without further educational interventions by the researchers, water consumption was measured for the same period of 25 school days. The data were analyzed based on the mixed models methodology for measures repeated over time.
Results:
The water consumption did not change significantly (p > 0.05) between the different phases of the study (T0 = 0.43 ± 0.19, T1 = 0.38 ± 0.17, T2 = 0.39 ± 0.15, T1 = 0.48 ± 0.21 dm3/day/child).
Conclusion:
The introduction of toothbrushing into the routine of the children, in the context of recreational and sustainable health education, did not have a detrimental impact on water consumption.
Clinical Significance:
Among the many recommendations for the introduction and implementation of supervised toothbrushing programs in school environments, there is no mention of the measures taken during such procedures aimed at economizing water, the rational use of which should be a daily practice irrespective of the water conditions of the surrounding region. The findings of this study contribute to the enhancement of educational and pedagogical activities in schools.
How To Cite This Article:
Flório FM, dos Santos Klee L, Brandão Ramos AP, et al. Use of Water by Schoolchildren: Impact of Indirectly Supervised Daily Toothbrushing-A Pilot Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(5):513-517.
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