Changing use and knowledge of fluoride toothpaste by schoolchildren, parents and schoolteachers in Beijing, China

TY - JOUR

T1 - Changing use and knowledge of fluoride toothpaste by schoolchildren, parents and schoolteachers in Beijing, China

AU - Liu, Min

AU - Zhu, Ling

AU - Zhang, BoXue

AU - Petersen, Poul Erik

PY - 2007/6

Y1 - 2007/6

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To assess the oral hygiene practices, current use of and knowledge about fluoride toothpaste among schoolchildren, parents, and schoolteachers; to describe the attitudes of parents and schoolteachers in relation to improving schoolchildren's oral health.DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.PARTICIPANTS: 1,557 schoolchildren, 1,132 parents, and 352 schoolteachers were recruited by multistage stratified sampling procedure in a district of Beijing, China.METHODS: Self-completed questionnaire.RESULTS: The percentage of schoolchildren, parents, and schoolteachers who actually used fluoride toothpaste was 88%, 86%, and 87%, respectively, and 74-78% of the respondent groups brushed their teeth twice a day or more. 64% of schoolchildren, 73% of parents, and 74% of schoolteachers confirmed the caries preventive effect of fluoride toothpaste. Toothpaste recommended by oral health professional organisations was preferred by respondents - particularly by schoolchildren - when purchasing toothpaste (86%). 93% of parents and 56% of schoolteachers recognised their important role in promoting children's oral health; however, their lack of knowledge seemed to be a major obstacle in fulfilling this role.CONCLUSIONS: The use of fluoride toothpaste in Beijing appears to have increased during the past decade. In addition to mass communication comprehensive school-based oral health programmes are needed to continuously promote the use of fluoride toothpaste among schoolchildren.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To assess the oral hygiene practices, current use of and knowledge about fluoride toothpaste among schoolchildren, parents, and schoolteachers; to describe the attitudes of parents and schoolteachers in relation to improving schoolchildren's oral health.DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.PARTICIPANTS: 1,557 schoolchildren, 1,132 parents, and 352 schoolteachers were recruited by multistage stratified sampling procedure in a district of Beijing, China.METHODS: Self-completed questionnaire.RESULTS: The percentage of schoolchildren, parents, and schoolteachers who actually used fluoride toothpaste was 88%, 86%, and 87%, respectively, and 74-78% of the respondent groups brushed their teeth twice a day or more. 64% of schoolchildren, 73% of parents, and 74% of schoolteachers confirmed the caries preventive effect of fluoride toothpaste. Toothpaste recommended by oral health professional organisations was preferred by respondents - particularly by schoolchildren - when purchasing toothpaste (86%). 93% of parents and 56% of schoolteachers recognised their important role in promoting children's oral health; however, their lack of knowledge seemed to be a major obstacle in fulfilling this role.CONCLUSIONS: The use of fluoride toothpaste in Beijing appears to have increased during the past decade. In addition to mass communication comprehensive school-based oral health programmes are needed to continuously promote the use of fluoride toothpaste among schoolchildren.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Attitude to Health

KW - Cariostatic Agents

KW - Child

KW - China

KW - Consumer Satisfaction

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Dental Care

KW - Dental Caries

KW - Fluorides

KW - Health Education, Dental

KW - Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

KW - Health Promotion

KW - Humans

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Oral Health

KW - Oral Hygiene

KW - Parents

KW - Teaching

KW - Toothbrushing

KW - Toothpastes

KW - Urban Health

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 17695741

SN - 0020-6539

VL - 57

SP - 187

EP - 194

JO - International Dental Journal

JF - International Dental Journal

IS - 3

ER -