Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal: BMC Oral Health

Volume number: 19

ISSN: 1472-6831

Open access status: Gold

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-019-0755-z

Publisher: BioMed Central

Abstract: 
BackgroundMany countries offer systematic group prevention programs in kindergarten and school in order to promote children's oral health. Little is known, however, about the actual toothbrushing abilities of children when group prevention programs end.MethodsIn Germany, all children take advantage from a nationwide group prevention program (called Gruppenprophylaxe) lasting from kindergarten up to sixth grade (12years of age). Standardized recommendations are given concerning brushing systematics and brushing movements. N=174 children at the age of 12 were thus randomly selected from two German towns and were asked to perform toothbrushing to the best of their abilities in front of a mirror which also served as a camera. Brushing behavior was analyzed by video analysis.ResultsChildren brushed their teeth for an average of 200s80.48s (mean +/- SD). Still, more than 55% missed at least one sextant when brushing inner surfaces, 16% missed them all. Only 7.5% of the children brushed both inner and outer surfaces by the intended movements (vertical movements on the inner surfaces and circular movements on the outer surfaces) for at least 90% of the respective brushing time. Instead, horizontal brushing was very common on the lateral surfaces.ConclusionsThe present analysis indicates that children have low efficiency to adopt the tooth-brushing recommendations given in prevention programs. This is surprising as great endeavors are made to help children internalize the recommendations. Future research is needed to better understand which factors impede adoption of toothbrushing recommendations in children and which efforts are necessary to improve their toothbrushing abilities.

Harvard Citation style: Deinzer, R., Cordes, O., Weber, J., Hassebrauck, L., Weik, U., Kraemer, N., et al. (2019) Toothbrushing behavior in children - an observational study of toothbrushing performance in 12 year olds, BMC Oral Health, 19, Article 68. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-019-0755-z

APA Citation style: Deinzer, R., Cordes, O., Weber, J., Hassebrauck, L., Weik, U., Kraemer, N., Pieper, K., & Margraf-Stiksrud, J. (2019). Toothbrushing behavior in children - an observational study of toothbrushing performance in 12 year olds. BMC Oral Health. 19, Article 68. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-019-0755-z