Interviews with mothers uncover insights into assisting children with toothbrushing
Investigators have assessed maternal perspectives on assisting children with toothbrushing, according to findings published in The Journal of the American Dental Association.
Previous research has indicated that parent-led toothbrushing with fluoridated toothpaste could help reduce the risk of caries; however, evidence-based guidelines on this type of intervention are currently limited for children aged 3 to 5 years.
In the qualitative, cross-sectional study, the investigators asked 301 mothers about their perceptions of when and how to assist their children aged 3 to 5 years with toothbrushing between 2018 and 2022. Following the interviews, they identified four themes: assisting with child toothbrushing, ceasing assistance with toothbrushing, lacking recommendations on child toothbrushing and compliance with recommendations on child toothbrushing assistance.
A majority of the mothers revealed that they altered their level of assistance depending on observations of their children’s motor skills. For instance, when the children demonstrated an ability to brush themselves, the mothers stopped providing assistance.
The research highlighted the need for standardized recommendations on assisting children with toothbrushing. The investigators hope their findings can aid oral health care providers in providing enhanced education for when caregivers can initiate independent toothbrushing as well as techniques to improve toothbrushing in children.
Read more: PracticeUpdate
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