Evaluation of the Relationship Between Parental Oral Hygiene Habits and Adolescents’ Periodontal Health

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of parents’ toothbrushing habits on the periodontal health parameters of their children. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 80 systemically healthy children. Participants were divided into two groups according to their parents’ toothbrushing routines: children of parents who brushed irregularly or inadequately (Group 1), and children of parents who brushed regularly twice daily (Group 2). Clinical periodontal parameters, including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), and bleeding on probing (BOP), were recorded following a standardized periodontal protocol. Independent samples t-test was used for intergroup comparisons. Results: The groups were similar in terms of age, sex, height, and weight (p>0.05). Significant differences were found in periodontal parameters. Children in Group 1 presented significantly higher PI and GI scores compared to Group 2 (p<0.05). No significant differences were observed for PD or BOP between groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Parental oral hygiene habits have a significant impact on the periodontal health parameters of children. Children of parents with irregular toothbrushing habits exhibit greater plaque accumulation and higher levels of gingival inflammation. These findings highlight the importance of parental oral health education and emphasize family-based preventive strategies for promoting periodontal health in children.

Keywords

• dental plaque index
• gingival diseases
• gingival index
• parental behavior

Ebeveynlerin Ağız Hijyen Alışkanlıkları ile Adölesanların Periodontal Sağlığı Arasındaki İlişkinin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, ebeveynlerin diş fırçalama alışkanlıklarının çocuklarının periodontal sağlık parametreleri üzerindeki etkisini değerlendirmektir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Kesitsel tasarımlı bu araştırmaya 80 sistemik olarak sağlıklı çocuk dahil edilmiştir. Çocuklar, ebeveynlerinin diş fırçalama alışkanlıklarına göre iki gruba ayrılmıştır: düzensiz veya yetersiz fırçalayan ebeveynlerin çocukları (Grup 1) ve günde iki kez düzenli diş fırçalayan ebeveynlerin çocukları (Grup 2). Tüm katılımcılarda plak indeksi (PI), gingival indeks (GI), sondalama derinliği (SD) ve sondalamada kanama indeksi (SKİ) standart periodontal protokole göre değerlendirilmiştir. Gruplar arası karşılaştırmalarda bağımsız örneklem t-testi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Gruplar yaş, cinsiyet, boy ve kilo açısından benzer bulunmuştur (p>0.05). Klinik periodontal parametrelerde anlamlı farklılıklar saptanmıştır. Grup 1’deki çocukların PI ve GI değerleri, Grup 2’ye kıyasla istatistiksel olarak anlamlı derecede daha yüksek bulunmuştur (p<0.05). Ancak SD ve SKİ açısından gruplar arasında anlamlı fark gözlenmemiştir (p>0.05). Sonuç: Ebeveynlerin ağız hijyeni alışkanlıkları, çocukların periodontal sağlık parametreleri üzerinde belirgin bir etkiye sahiptir. Düzensiz veya yetersiz diş fırçalama davranışı sergileyen ebeveynlerin çocukları daha yüksek plak birikimi ve artmış gingival inflamasyon göstermektedir. Bu sonuçlar, ebeveynlere yönelik ağız sağlığı eğitimlerinin çocukların periodontal sağlığının korunmasında kritik olabileceğini göstermektedir.

Keywords

• Diş eti hastalıkları
• ebeveyn davranışı
• dental plak indeksi
• gingival indeks

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