Parent-reported toothbrushing behaviour in the Portuguese preschool population

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oral Health
• Public Health Research

Background:

• Preschool oral hygiene is crucial for long-term dental health.
• Understanding toothbrushing behaviors in young children is essential for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate toothbrushing habits and related factors among preschool children in Portugal.
• To identify associations between sociodemographic factors and toothbrushing practices.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 711 parents of children in Portuguese kindergartens.
• Data collected via an online questionnaire on home and school toothbrushing behaviors.
• Statistical analysis included Chi-square, Fisher, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

Main Results:

• 65.3% of children brushed teeth twice daily at home, often with adult help.
• Only 7.8% performed all correct toothbrushing procedures; 71.2% did not brush at school.
• Toothbrushing at school was more common in private kindergartens (p<0.001).
• Higher parental education and prior dental visits were associated with correct toothbrushing procedures (p=0.007 and p=0.005, respectively).

Conclusions:

• While twice-daily toothbrushing at home is common, school-based brushing and comprehensive correct techniques are infrequent.
• Private kindergartens showed higher rates of school toothbrushing.
• Positive associations exist between parental education, dental attendance, and children's correct toothbrushing technique.