Impact of school for future parents and first preventive examination in the first year of life on oral habits

Abstract

Pregnancy is an ideal time to promote the primary prevention of early childhood caries. It is crucial to have a child’s first dental examination in the first year of life. The aim of this study was to find out how the School for future parents and the child’s first dental examination affect children’s oral habits. A specialist pediatric dentist was involved in the implementation of the School for future parents and the courses and on timely care for the good oral health of the child. We examined all one- and two-year-olds whose parents responded positively to a dental examination for their child. During the first examination, we considered attendance at the School, how the parents booked the dental examination, what the child drinks when thirsty, how many times a day they brush their children’s teeth and toothpaste use. During the second examination, we considered what the child drinks when thirsty, how many times a day the parents brush their children’s teeth and toothpaste use. The results showed that participants in the School were more likely to book their children’s first preventive, consultative dental examination (p < 0.001), brush their children’s teeth, and use toothpaste (p < 0.001) than parents who did not attend the school. However, there was no difference between the two groups regarding what parents gave their children to drink when they were thirsty (p = 0.69). In the child’s second year, all the parents used toothpaste, brushed their children’s teeth more often, and their children drank sweet drinks more often than before the first examination (p < 0.001). We have succeeded in raising awareness of good oral habits among parents and children (the frequency of brushing children’s teeth and the using toothpaste), but not changed the behavior in the type of drinking against thirst.