David Avenetti1, Helen H Lee2, Oksana Pugach3, Genesis Rosales4, Anna Sandoval5, Molly Martin6. 1. Dr. Avenetti is a clinical associate professor and graduate program director, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ill., USA;, Email: avenetti@uic.edu. 2. Dr. Lee is an assistant professor, Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ill., USA. 3. Dr. Pugach is a biostatistician, Methodology Research Core, and Mses, Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ill., USA. 4. Rosales, Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ill., USA. 5. Sandoval are research specialists, Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ill., USA. 6. Dr. Martin is an associate professor, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ill., USA.
Abstract
Purpose: To describe toothbrushing frequency/duration and toothpaste use among young children in an urban, vulnerable population in Chicago, Ill., USA.<br/> Methods: Caregivers of children younger than three years old were recruited from university and community pediatric dental clinics. Caregivers completed a 37-item questionnaire in English or Spanish about predictors/covariates (demographics, child/caregiver oral health, access to dental care) and primary outcomes (child toothbrushng behaviors, toothpaste use). Models employed generalized logit and ordinal logistic regression.<br/> Results: A total of 148 caregivers completed the survey. The average child age was 18.8 months (±7.4 SD). Approximately 41 percent of children brushed once a day or less, and 19 percent of caregivers did not regularly assist. Almost all children used toothpaste (96 percent), but 36 percent of caregivers did not know if it contained fluoride. Increased child brushing frequency was associated with older child age, higher caregiver brushing frequency, history of a child dental visit, and caregiver assistance (P<0.05). Children with a history of dental visits were seven times more likely to brush for 30 seconds or more, and receiving caregiver assistance was associated with brushing longer than two minutes (P <0.05).<br/> Conclusion: Most children brushed at least once daily and nearly all of them used toothpaste. Access to dental care, parental involvement, and parental oral health were associated with favorable child toothbrushing behaviors. Toothbrushing duration, frequency, and encouraging family assistance are modifiable protective factors and opportunities for intervention.
Purpose: To describe toothbrushing frequency/duration and toothpaste use among young children in an urban, vulnerable population in Chicago, Ill., USA.<br/> Methods: Caregivers of children younger than three years old were recruited from university and community pediatric dental clinics. Caregivers completed a 37-item questionnaire in English or Spanish about predictors/covariates (demographics, child/caregiver oral health, access to dental care) and primary outcomes (child toothbrushng behaviors, toothpaste use). Models employed generalized logit and ordinal logistic regression.<br/> Results: A total of 148 caregivers completed the survey. The average child age was 18.8 months (±7.4 SD). Approximately 41 percent of children brushed once a day or less, and 19 percent of caregivers did not regularly assist. Almost all children used toothpaste (96 percent), but 36 percent of caregivers did not know if it contained fluoride. Increased child brushing frequency was associated with older child age, higher caregiver brushing frequency, history of a child dental visit, and caregiver assistance (P<0.05). Children with a history of dental visits were seven times more likely to brush for 30 seconds or more, and receiving caregiver assistance was associated with brushing longer than two minutes (P <0.05).<br/> Conclusion: Most children brushed at least once daily and nearly all of them used toothpaste. Access to dental care, parental involvement, and parental oral health were associated with favorable child toothbrushing behaviors. Toothbrushing duration, frequency, and encouraging family assistance are modifiable protective factors and opportunities for intervention.
Authors: Francisco Ramos-Gomez; Justin S White; Helen E Lindau; Tracy K Lin; Tracy L Finlayson; Jenny X Liu; Stuart A Gansky Journal: J Public Health Dent Date: 2020-10-08 Impact factor: 1.821
Authors: Winston Tseng; Elizabeth Pleasants; Susan L Ivey; Karen Sokal-Gutierrez; Jayanth Kumar; Kristin S Hoeft; Alice M Horowitz; Francisco Ramos-Gomez; Miku Sodhi; Jessica Liu; Linda Neuhauser Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-12-30 Impact factor: 3.390