Associations of Dental Caries and Tooth Brushing Habits in School-aged Children with Family and Daily Life Situations

Abstract

 Dental caries is considered to be caused by not only personal factors but also social circumstances. This study was conducted to examine the relationships of dental caries and tooth brushing habits in fifth-grade elementary school children with their family and living conditions. In 2017, Saitama Prefectural Government conducted a survey of local residents regarding their living conditions. Among the participating individuals, the responses of 3,716 sets of parents and children were used for analysis. To determine significant factors correlated with dental caries and tooth brushing habits in children, chi-square test and logistic regression analysis results were used.

 The findings showed the significant correlation of a the higher number of dental caries or the absence of a tooth brushing habit in children with difficulty in paying lifeline bills, lack of other individuals to trust in the case of an emergency, and absence of those to ask for advice regarding disciplining children. In addition, parenting attitudes such as infrequent praise, concerns about dental caries or stained teeth, skipping of breakfast, and an unbalanced diet were also associated. These findings suggest that there is a risk of harm to children's health depending on the family situation where they grow up and parent-child interactions.

 Therefore, when addressing dental caries and tooth brushing habits of children in the upper grades of elementary school, it is necessary to provide health education that fosters a sense of values and disciplined behavior, which encourages children to think about their own health and take care of their teeth and body, considering these influences.