Assessment of Children's Oral Health Care Practices and their Dental Problems

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Pediatric Nursing Department – Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University

Abstract

Background: Oral health is crucial for general health, and a fundamental nursing
responsibility as it is a state of being free from mouth and oral infection, periodontal disease, tooth
decay, tooth loss, and other diseases that affect millions of children. Aim: This study aimed to assess
children's oral health care practices and their dental problems. Subjects and Methods: A
descriptive design was conducted at outpatient dental clinics at both Ain Shams and Tanta
University Hospitals. Tools of data collection involved I- a structured questionnaire to assess
school age children knowledge as regards oral health care and dental problems. II- Dental
Assessment Sheet to assess children's dental problems. III - Tooth brushing and flossing checklist
(reported practice) to assess children's oral health care practices. Results: The study findings
revealed that the majority (95%) of the studied children had decayed teeth. There was a highly
statistically significant difference between studied children's decayed teeth and their total oral health
care reported practices. Conclusion: The study concluded that the children's oral health care
practices are tooth brushing and flossing technique and the children's dental problems are dental
caries, dental injury and gingivitis and also concluded that there was appositive relation between
children's oral health care practices and their dental problems. Recommendations: Educating the
children proper tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste, flossing technique through mass media and
limiting sugar-containing takeaway food and beverage consumption, to provide adequate nutrition
for children.

Keywords