LEVEL OF AWARENESS AMONG CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS REGARDING INDIVIDUAL ORAL HYGIENE
Abstract
Objective: To assess awareness of daily oral hygiene and health among children aged 4-7 years and their parents. Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional design involving 35 children (aged 4-7 years) and their parents. Participants were interviewed regarding their oral hygiene practices, and structured questionnaires were completed based on their responses. A comparative analysis was performed on the corresponding answers from both groups to determine statistical significance. Following the assessment, participants received basic education on maintaining optimal oral hygiene. Results: Analysis revealed statistically significant discrepancies between the responses of children and parents in three key areas: Oral Hygiene Reminders: While 100% of parents reported reminding their children to brush their teeth and rinse their mouths, 18% of children did not acknowledge receiving these reminders (p=0.012). Assistance with Toothbrushing: A significant difference in perception was observed (p=0.027): 71% of parents reported assisting regularly, whereas 46% of children reported inconsistent assistance (answering "sometimes"). Preventive Measures: The most significant discrepancy concerned the understanding of prevention (p=0.004). Children exhibited "single-factor thinking", with 46% identifying oral hygiene and 23% identifying sugar restriction as the sole preventive measures. In contrast, 69-78% of parents viewed prevention as a multifactorial process, selecting more than two factors. Conclusion: While parental understanding of oral health factors is generally adequate, notable gaps exist in the practical implementation and communication of hygiene routines. Addressing these discrepancies is essential when developing age-specific oral hygiene guidelines. Given that prevention is superior to treatment, enhancing parental knowledge and its application remains critical to improving pediatric oral health outcomes. Keywords: Oral hygiene, dental caries, prevention, questionnaire, survey, toothbrushing.