Evaluation of parents' attitudes and behaviors towards products and practices containing fluoride

Year 2024, Volume: 25 Issue: 4, 102 - 110, 30.12.2024

Çetin Durmaz , Buket Ayna , Yelda Polat

https://doi.org/10.70509/dicledentj.1567583

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate parents’ attitudes and behaviors about fluoride-containing products and practices.
Methods: The study was conducted between April 2023 and February 2024. Parents of children who applied to Dicle University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry voluntarily participated in the study and a total of 350 parents participated. A face-to-face questionnaire consisting of 2 sections and a total of 26 questions was administered to the parents.
Results: Among the parents who participated in our study, 56.86% stated that they had never heard of fluoride before. Those who had heard of fluoride stated that they had heard about it from school screenings and dentists. 16.86% of the parents stated that fluoride is harmful, but 68% of them did not have any information about it. 78.8% of the parents stated that they did not know the effect of brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste on the prevention of dental caries and 76.57% stated that they did not look at the fluoride content when choosing toothpaste. 84% of the parents stated that they did not know the fluoride applications made by the physician and 74.57% stated that they would not have their children do it. The vast majority of those who would not have their children fluoridated (73.95%) stated that they would not do so because they did not have information about fluoride. We found that 92% of the parents did not know systemic fluoride applications, 90% did not know whether the drinking water they used contained fluoride, and 93.43% did not know whether fluoride in drinking water helps prevent dental caries formation.
Conclusion: Considering the high caries risk and oral hygiene deficiencies in our country, the need to use fluoride in dental treatments is increasing. Therefore, the public’s lack of knowledge and concerns about fluoride should be addressed and the use of preventive treatments such as fluoride should be increased.

Keywords

Child, dental treatment, parent, fluoride, caries

Ethical Statement

Ethics committee approval for this study was obtained from Dicle University Faculty of Dentistry Ethics Committee Date: 29.03.2023, Decision No: 2023-15).

Supporting Institution

Bulunmamaktadır

Project Number

Bulunmamaktadır

References

• Javed F, Feng C, Kopycka-Kedzierawski DT. Incidence of early childhood caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Investig Clin Dent. 2017;8(4):1-6.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville MD.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research National Institutes of Health; 2000.
• Alshehri A, Nasim VS. Infant oral health care knowledge and awareness among parents in Abha city of Aseer Region Saudi Arabia. SJDR. 2015;6(2):98-101.
• Türk Pedodonti Derneği. Florür Durum Raporu. 2019.
• Chi DL. Parent refusal of topical fluoride for their children: clinical strategies and future research priorities to improve evidence-based pediatric dental practice. Dent Clin North Am. 2017;61(3): 607-617.
• Türkiye Ağız Diş Sağlığı Profili Araştırma Raporu - 2018. Available from: https://shgmadsdb.saglik.gov.tr.
• Yazan E, Gencay K, Tuna EB. Aşı reddi ve topikal fluorid reddi arasındaki ilişki. Selcuk Dent J. 2020;7(1):134-140.
• Basch CH, Milano N, Hillyer GC. An assessment of fluoride related posts on Instagram. Health Promot Perspect. 2019;9:85.
• Kayalıdere E, İlayda T, Dörter C. Bireylerin farklı medya araçlarından diş sağlığı ile ilgili edindiği bilgilerinin değerlendirilmesi. Eur J Res Dent. 2021;5(1):29-37.
• Mehri A. Trace elements in human nutrition (II) - an update. Int J Prev Med. 2020;11:2. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_48_19
• Bryant BS, Retief DH, Bradley EL, Denys FR. The effect of topical fluoride treatment on enamel fluoride uptake and the tensile bond strength of an orthodontic bonding resin. Am J Orthod. 1985;87(4):294-302.
• Jahandideh A, Tüloğlu N. Ebeveynlerin ağız-diş sağlığındaki koruyucu uygulamalar hakkındaki bilgilerinin değerlendirilmesi. Süleyman Demirel Üni Sağ Bil Derg. 2019;10(4):403-412.
• Birant S, Koruyucu M, Ozcan H, Ilisulu C, Kasimoglu Y, Ustun N, Seymen F. Investigating the level of knowledge of the community about oral and dental health. Eur J Dent. 2021;15(1):145-151.
• Öter B, Karabulut B, Güven Polat G, Çehreli SB. Ailelerin florürlü ağız bakım ürünlerine bakış açılarının ve davranışlarının değerlendirilmesi. Ata Diş Hek Fak Derg. 2019;29(3):373-380.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Panel on Community Water Fluoridation. U.S. Public Health Services recommendation for fluoride concentration in drinking water for the prevention of dental caries. Public Health Rep. 2015;130(4): 318-331.
• Green R, Lanphear B, Hornung R, et al. Association between maternal fluoride exposure during pregnancy and IQ scores in offspring in Canada. JAMA Pediatr. 2019;173(10):940-948.
• Broadbent JM, Thomson WM, Ramrakha S, et al. Community water fluoridation and intelligence: prospective study in New Zealand. Am J Public Health. 2015;105(1):72-76.
• Tahani B, Yadegarfar G, Ahmadi A. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of parents of 7-12-year-old children regarding fissure sealant therapy and professional fluoride therapy. J Educ Health Promot. 2017;6:106.
• Ak AT, Aksoy H, Özdaş DÖ. Türk ailelerinin florlu diş macunu ve topikal flor uygulamaları hakkında bilgi ve görüşlerinin değerlendirilmesi: pilot çalışma. Ege Üni Diş Hek Fak Derg. 2018; 39(3):160-164.
• Ota J, Yamamoto T, Ando Y, Aida J, Hirata Y, Arai S. Dental health behavior of parents of children using non-fluoride toothpaste: a cross-sectional study. BMC Oral Health. 2013;13:74.
• Liu M, Zhu L, Zhang B, Petersen PE. Changing use and knowledge of fluoride toothpaste by schoolchildren, parents and schoolteachers in Beijing, China. Int Dent J. 2007;57(3):187-194.
• Lindenmüller H, Lambrecht JT. Oral care. Curr Probl Dermatol. 2011;40:107-115.
• Suma Sogi HP, Hugar SM, Nalawade TM, Sinha A, Hugar S, Mallikarjuna RM. Knowledge, attitude, and practices of oral health care in prevention of early childhood caries among parents of children in Belagavi city: a questionnaire study. J Family Med Prim Care. 2016;5(2):286-290.
• Çobanoğlu N, Sağ Güngör F, Dönmez N, Alnaftachi N. Diş hekimliği fakültesine başvuran hastaların diş macunu tercihleri ve diş macunlarındaki flor ile ilgili görüşleri. Selcuk Dent J. 2021; 8(1):56-60.
• Carpiano RM, Chi DL. Parents’ attitudes towards topical fluoride and vaccines for children: are these distinct or overlapping phenomena? Prev Med Rep. 2018;10:123-128.
• Mani SA, John J, Ping WY, Ismail NM. Early childhood caries: parent’s knowledge, attitude and practice towards its prevention in Malaysia. Oral Health Care-Pediatric. 2012;1:1-18.
• Hendaus MA, Jama HA, Siddiqui FJ, Elsiddig SA, Alhammadi AH. Parental preference for fluoride varnish: a new concept in a rapidly developing nation. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2016;10:1227-1233.
• Weyant RJ, Tracy SL, Anselmo T, et al. Topical fluoride for caries prevention: executive summary of the updated clinical recommendations and supporting systematic review. J Am Dent Assoc. 2013;144(11):1279-1291.
• Chou R, Pappas M, Dana T, et al. Screening and Interventions to Prevent Dental Caries in Children Younger Than Age Five Years: A Systematic Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Evidence Synthesis No. 210. AHRQ Publication No. 21-05279-EF-1. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2021:15-18.
• Petersen PE, Danila I, Samoila A. Oral health behavior, knowledge, and attitudes of children, mothers, and schoolteachers in Romania in 1993. Acta Odontol Scand. 1995;53(6):363-368.
• Horowitz HS. The water fluoridation and other systemic fluorides. J Dent Res. 1990;69:760-764.
• McClure FJ. Water Fluoridation. The Search and the Victory. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Dental Research; 1970:75-82.
• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Fluoride therapy. In: The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago Ill.: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2023:352-358.
• Gussy MG, Waters EB, Riggs EM, Lo SK, Kilpatrick NM. Parental knowledge, beliefs and behaviours for oral health of toddlers residing in rural Victoria. Aust Dent J. 2008;53(1):52-60.