Parents Knowledge and Awareness of their Children’s Oral Health in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objective: To assess the parents’ knowledge and awareness of their children’s oral health in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional analytical study of Saudi parents. A self-administered questionnaire was collected from 324 parents in public parks and malls. In addition to the demographic questions, parents’ knowledge about the number of primary teeth, tooth brushing, best time of dental visits, the meaning of plaque and calculus, the importance of fluoride, the relationship between primary and permanent teeth and the effect of oral health on general health were questioned. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni tests to assess differences in the mean number of correct answers among demographic categories. A p-value of 0.05 was set at a significant level. Results: The percentages of correct answers ranged from 26% to 75% depending on the type of questions. Only 26-28% could identify the number of primary teeth and the duration of teeth brushing. About one-third of parents knew the time of the first dental visit and the definition of plaque and calculus. Between 63-75% of parents believed that primary teeth can affect permanent teeth and mouth problems can affect general health. On average, 59.2% of participants provide incorrect answers about their children’s oral health. The numbers of correct answers were significantly increased by increasing education and income. Conclusion: Parents' knowledge and awareness of oral health among Saudi parents were poor. Special attention should be given to parents with low socioeconomic status who need to be educated about children oral health more.