Producción Científica Profesorado

Socio-behavioral factors influencing tooth brushing frequency in schoolchildren



Medina Solís, Carlo Eduardo

2008

Vallejos-Sánchez AA, Medina-Solis CE, Maupomé G, Casanova Rosado JF, Minaya-Sánchez M, Villalobos-Rodelo JJ, Pontigo-Loyola AP. Socio-behavioral factors influencing tooth brushing frequency in schoolchildren. J Ame Dent Assoc 2008; 139 (6): 743-749.


Abstract


Background. Toothbrushing may help prevent some oral health diseases considered to be public health problemsin particular, certain presentations of chronic periodontal diseases and dental caries. The authors conducted a study to identify variables associated with frequency of toothbrushing with toothpaste among schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years. Methods. The authors collected data regarding sociodemographic, socioeconomic, oral hygiene and attitudinal variables through a crosssectional questionnaire administered to 1,373 schoolchildren from Campeche, Mexico. They categorized toothbrushing frequency as two times a day or fewer and three times a day or more. The authors used logistic regression to analyze the data. Results. Multivariate analyses showed that girls (odds ratio [OR] = 1.41), older children (OR = 1.07) and offspring of mothers with higher levels of schooling (OR = 1.07) were more likely to brush more frequently. The results showed an interaction between the attitude of the mother toward oral health and the use of dental care in the previous 12 months. When mothers had a positive attitude, the likelihood of their childrens brushing more frequently was higher among those who received dental care in the previous 12 months (OR = 2.43; P ??.001) than among those who did not receive dental care. Conclusions. Mothers characteristics were associated with more favorable patterns of toothbrushing in children. Thus, targeting the linkages between mothers characteristics and childrens behaviors could lead to more effective health promotion and preventive efforts among this population. Clinical Implications. Clinicians should take into account that certain characteristics of mothers are associated with more desirable habits in their children. Future research should try to fully characterize these family linkages and determine how to support them.






Artículos relacionados

Prevalencia de Salmonella sp en alimentos en el estado de Tamaulipas durante el año 2005

Household Expenditure in Dental Health Care: National Estimations in Mexico for 2000, 2002, and 2004

Prevalence and severity of dental caries in adolescents aged 12 and 15 living in communities with va...

Dental fluorosis prevalence and diagnostic test using Deans index based on 6 teeth, and on 28 teeth

Socioeconomic determinants of inequality and self-reported morbidity among adolescents in a developi...

Edentulism Among Mexican Adults Aged 35 Years and Older and Associated Factors

Dental caries and associated factors in Mexican schoolchildren aged 6-13 years

Prevalencia de fluorosis dental y fuentes adicionales de exposición a fluoruro como factores de ries...

Políticas de salud bucal en México: Disminuir las principales enfermedades. Una descripción

Dental fluorosis in 12- and 15-year-olds at high altitude in above optimal fluoridated communities i...