Abstract
The purpose of this study is to describe process of acquiring the toothbrushing habit by the Japanese children who are not under continuous instruction by dentists or dental hygienists.
The field science methodology adopted for this study was that developed by Jiro KAWAKITA, who is a Japanese anthropologist. 48 mothers were interviewed by the author concerning the toothbrushing habits of their 85 children. The data were organized by the KJ method of KAWAKITA.
The process of acquiring the toothbrushing habit was divided into 5 stages: 1) beginning stage 2) play stage 3) habit formation stage 4) habit fixation stage 5) fixed habit stage with avoidance.
The beginning stage was when the children first had contact with toothbrushing or toothbrushes. About 90% of the 3-year-old children experienced this stage in this survey. The play stage was when they handled toothbrushes the same as their toys, and their mothers also realized it. The stage of habit formation was when their mothers began instructing their children in toothbrushing.
The habit fixation stage was when the children came to use their toothbrushes with their own hands daily, the frequency becoming fixed. About 50% of the 4-year-old children experienced this stage and almost all used their toothbrush once a day in this survey. The habit stage with avoidance was when they sometimes avoided brushing their teeth.
The manner of avoidance is like that of adults. This stage began gradually after the entrance to elementary school. Toothbrushes were given at the beginning stage, and dentifrices were given at the habit formation stage in general. Some anxiety was found in mothers, this was found typically during the habit formation stage.
The habit changing process should be considered in dental health education. Help for mothers with some anxiety is needed, and the author thinks an important aid is education. The field scicnce methodology is effective for this study, because it is effective for description of the daily life circumstances in which various complex factors are involved.
