ABSTRACT:
Background:
Dental caries is a widely spreading disease in Pakistan; its prevalence among Pakistani children is 44.4%. Parents have pivotal role in educating their children towards their oral hygiene and so their knowledge and attitude leaves positive impact on their children oral health status.
Materials and methods:
Total 300 mothers were selected from Dow Dental College OPD. In this cross-sectional study questionnaires were given to mothers to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice towards their children oral health. Questionnaire had demographic data including their literacy level. Importance of primary dentition and aspects of early childhood decay were also assessed in the study.
Results:
Majority 65.4% had poor knowledge, 26.3% exhibited poor attitude and 47% having fair practices towards oral hygiene. However majority mothers (96.7%) knew that sugar is the main cause of caries but in practice most of them were giving their children sweet upon demand (60.7%). Only 42.3% had knowledge of role of fluoride. Attitude towards primary dentition was shown by only 56.3%.
Conclusions:
Overall mothers had inadequate knowledge towards their childrens oral health which resulted in the poor practices of oral hygiene.
Key words:
Caries, Oral Health Knowledge, Oral Hygiene Practice, Parental Awareness
Key words: Caries, Oral Health Knowledge, Oral Hygiene Practice, Parental Awareness
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