Prevalence of healthy oral habits in the child population resident in Spain

• Published in: Anales de pediatría (Barcelona, Spain : 2003) Spain : 2003), 2012-03, Vol.76 (3), p.140-147
• Main Authors: Lapresa, L Barriuso, Barbero, B Sanz, Arizaleta, L Hernando
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Oral Hygiene - statistics & numerical data; Spain
• ISSN: 1695-9531
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anpedi.2011.09.005

Oral health is integral to children's health. To achieve this, it is essential establishing healthy habits early on them, such as regular check-ups, proper and frequent tooth brushing and a non-cariogenic diet. Prevalence of these habits are investigated in Spanish children by age group (pre-school: 2-5 years and school: 6-15 years) and by maternal educational level. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, based on the last Spanish National Health Survey (2006). A representative sample of 8042 subjects (2-15 years) was obtained. A total of 47.35% reported having gone to dental services during the last year and 69.09% having gone sometime during their lives. Only 22.68% of the sample reported daily tooth brushing three times or more and 89.03% reported eating a cariogenic risk diet. In the school group (6-15 years) 29.87% of children whose mothers were university level brushed their teeth three times or more compared to 25.83% and 20.89% of those whose mothers had secondary and even primary studies respectively. For the intake of cariogenic risk diet, the percentages were 87.05%, 91.11% and 90.44%. In both age groups, and except for the consumption of sweets, there was a statistically significant association between maternal educational level and healthy habits. The prevalence of these healthy habits is far lower than the recommendations: a lower use of services and a lower frequency of daily tooth brushing and higher intake of a cariogenic risk diet. The outcomes are more favourable in both age groups when the mother are university level, wich may serve as a guide to the promotion of oral health.