Parents lack adequate child oral health knowledge according to new study
A study has shown that many parents do not have adequate knowledge of how to maintain a child’s oral health; the study revealed that 49% of parents allow their children to drink sugary drinks between meals, and over 1 in 10 children are not registered with a dentist.
The study found that 12% of their children were not registered with a dentist, only 53% of parents knew that milk and water are the only safe drinks for young children’s teeth, 60% of parents encourage their children to rinse their mouth out with water after brushing, which goes against Designed to Smile Guidelines, 37% allowed their children to brush their teeth just once a day, and that 49% of parents allow their children to drink sugary drinks between meals.
David Tuthill, a Consultant Paediatrician at Children’s Hospital for Wales and the author of the study, said that the “pilot study shows a worrying lack of parental knowledge and practice for their children’s teeth and oral health.”
He continued to say that “Children, especially the very young, rely upon their parents for guidance when it comes to their oral care, making it imperative that parents are better educated on the basics of good child oral health.”
Dr Mair Parry, Welsh Officer of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health noted that “Improving children’s health is at the heart of what the RCPCH does and research is instrumental to achieving this”
She further said that “The result of this particular study shows that nearly half of parents allow their children to drink sugary drinks between meals – this not only causes tooth decay and painful tooth extraction, but it also contributes to this country’s poor obesity levels with 21% of boys and 18% of girls aged 15 are overweight or obese.”
Dr Parry noted that “We need to raise awareness of the damage sugar can do to children’s health and look at implementing policies that foster healthier environments.”
