A study on guardians' perceptions of oral behaviour of infants and toddlers aged 1 - 2 years

Objective To investigate guardians' perception of healthy oral behavior and knowledge of oral health care among infants and toddlers in order to provide a scientific evidence for developing oral health education, carrying out oral health care program effectively and decreasing the rate of dental caries among infants and toddlers.

Methods Stratified cluster sampling was used to recruited 2 416 guardians of infants and toddlers in Haidian District, Beijing from June to August 2019. A questionnaire survey was conducted. Mothers education level, infants' and toddlers' diet and feeding, oral hygiene habits, health care seeking and parents' cognition on oral behavior were compared based on infants' and toddlers' age.

Results A total of 1 395 infants and toddlers aged 1 - 2 years in Haidian District, Beijing had harmful feeding behaviors, and 1 512 of them drank milk at night. 1 018 ate more than 7 times per day at the 1 year age group, while 1 228 people ate more than 5 times per day at 2 year age group, the difference between two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). 34.7% of infants and toddlers brushed their teeth every day at 1 year age gruop, and 58.9% of their guardians helped them to brush teeth; While these number at 2 year age group were 65.4% and 45.7%, the differences between two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The percentage of seeking oral health care, regular check-up and fluoride coating at 1 year age group were 7.1% and 4.7% versus 14.6% and 8.3% at 2 year age group. The differences between two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Out of the nine question, awareness of oral health care was better among mothers with higher education level(college and above) than that among mothers without higher education level in seven questions, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion At present, guardians of infants and toddlers interviewed aged 1 - 2 have harmful oral health behaviors and poor awareness of oral health care. It is necessary to improve guardians' perception of oral health care, so as to promote their behavior and attitude change.