IADR Abstract Archives
Factors Related to Tooth Brushing of 1-year olds
Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate if mother’s age, education and own tooth brushing are related to twice-a-day tooth brushing and toothpaste use of their 1-year-old children.
Methods: This study used data from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort study (www.finnbrain.fi). Of the participating mothers, 1,718 (45%) returned the questionnaire when the children were 1-year-olds. The frequencies of mother’s own and their child’s tooth brushing and toothpaste use, and the number of child’s teeth were studied. Those mothers who had answered to child’s tooth brushing and number of teeth, and whose child had at least one tooth, were included in the analyses (n=1,653). Two logistic regression models were conducted. Dependent variables were child’s 1) tooth brushing and 2) tooth brushing with toothpaste (twice-a-day vs. less). Independent variables were mother’s age (≤30 vs. >30), education (low vs. mediocre/high) and tooth brushing, and child’s gender and number of teeth (≤4 vs. >4).
Results: Mothers’ mean age was 31.3 (SD=4.4). Mean number of teeth was 6.5 (SD=2.4) among girls and 7.0 (SD=2.4) among boys (p<0.001). Of the mothers, 41% reported to brush their children’s teeth with toothpaste twice-a-day, 18% reported brushing twice-a-day but less often with toothpaste, and 41% reported not to brush twice-a-day. In model 1 for tooth brushing of the child (1=less than twice-a-day), mother’s age (OR=1.5 for mothers >30 years) and own brushing (OR=4.7 for those not brushing twice-a-day) were statistically significant (R2=0.119). In model 2 for brushing with toothpaste (1=less than twice-a-day), besides mother’s age (OR=1.6) and brushing (OR=3.3), also number of child’s teeth (OR=1.5 for those with ≤4 teeth) was statistically significant (R2=0.075).
Conclusions: Only 59% of the mothers brushed their child’s teeth twice-a-day. Being the most important factor associated with child’s brushing, mother’s self-care should be supported already before the baby is born.
Methods: This study used data from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort study (www.finnbrain.fi). Of the participating mothers, 1,718 (45%) returned the questionnaire when the children were 1-year-olds. The frequencies of mother’s own and their child’s tooth brushing and toothpaste use, and the number of child’s teeth were studied. Those mothers who had answered to child’s tooth brushing and number of teeth, and whose child had at least one tooth, were included in the analyses (n=1,653). Two logistic regression models were conducted. Dependent variables were child’s 1) tooth brushing and 2) tooth brushing with toothpaste (twice-a-day vs. less). Independent variables were mother’s age (≤30 vs. >30), education (low vs. mediocre/high) and tooth brushing, and child’s gender and number of teeth (≤4 vs. >4).
Results: Mothers’ mean age was 31.3 (SD=4.4). Mean number of teeth was 6.5 (SD=2.4) among girls and 7.0 (SD=2.4) among boys (p<0.001). Of the mothers, 41% reported to brush their children’s teeth with toothpaste twice-a-day, 18% reported brushing twice-a-day but less often with toothpaste, and 41% reported not to brush twice-a-day. In model 1 for tooth brushing of the child (1=less than twice-a-day), mother’s age (OR=1.5 for mothers >30 years) and own brushing (OR=4.7 for those not brushing twice-a-day) were statistically significant (R2=0.119). In model 2 for brushing with toothpaste (1=less than twice-a-day), besides mother’s age (OR=1.6) and brushing (OR=3.3), also number of child’s teeth (OR=1.5 for those with ≤4 teeth) was statistically significant (R2=0.075).
Conclusions: Only 59% of the mothers brushed their child’s teeth twice-a-day. Being the most important factor associated with child’s brushing, mother’s self-care should be supported already before the baby is born.