Schoolchildren's tooth brushing characteristics and oral hygiene habits assessed with video-recorded sessions at school and a questionnaire.

Abstract

Tooth brushing habits become established during the first years of childhood and last throughout lifetime. To assess tooth-brushing characteristics, the procedure was videotaped at school and a questionnaire on oral hygiene knowledge, attitudes and practices was completed. A total 146 5- to 8-year-old low-SES schoolchildren from Bogotá participated. The median total tooth brushing time was 115 sec (75% Q3-178 sec; 25% Q1-83 sec). The median time the toothbrush was in the child's mouth was 89 sec (75% Q3-145 sec; 25% Q1-65 sec). Most children brushed their maxillary (97%), mandibular (95%), anterior (96%) and posterior (81%) teeth. The surfaces most often brushed were the buccal-anterior-maxillary (96%) and mandibular (94%) surfaces. The amount of toothpaste dispensed was 2/3 of toothbrush head in 51% of children. Most children spat (93%), used the mirror (78%), and rinsed their mouth (72%). The majority (97%) was confident that the toothbrushing session was effective. The questionnaire revealed the following: none of the children brush their teeth at school; only 34% is supervised by an adult during the tooth brushing procedure, and only 30% brush twice a day. The study shows overall positive findings of tooth brushing while being observed, in terms of time and use of toothpaste. These results, together with the poor oral-health status and toothbrushing habits reported at home, highly recommend incorporating daily-supervised school-based tooth brushing sessions with fluoride toothpaste.