Parental knowledge of oral prophylaxis and recommended fluoride concentration in toothpastes for children in Israel.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate parents' knowledge of the Israeli Ministry of Health guidelines on basic oral health practices and appropriate toothpaste usage for different pediatric age groups.

Method: Anonymous questionnaires were distributed to parents attending the Pedodontics Department. The questionnaire included two sections: general questions and questions that were completed for all children in the family, categorizing them into three age groups-under 2 years, 2-6 years, and over 6 years.

Results: A total of 242 questionnaires and 410 responses across different age groups were collected. Most respondents knew that teeth should be brushed as soon as the first tooth appears and believed that the first dental visit should be at age two (60.5% and 26.9%, respectively). However, only 15% of parents answered boths questions correctly. Toothpaste selection was primarily based on age (46.6%), with no significant differences across age groups for correct answer (p = 0.130). Awareness of the recommended fluoride concentration was low (16.1%), though parents of older children showed better knowledge (p = 0.040). Appropriate toothpaste amounts were used in 30.2% of the cases, with the 2-6 year age group demonstrating the highest awareness (p < 0.001). Only 3.7% of parents correctly answered all three toothpaste-related questions. Overall, the knowledge score for toothpaste guidelines was highest in the middle-aged group (31.21%, SD = 28.66, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: A minority of parents are familiar with recommended early dental care practices and correct toothpaste usage. The findings emphasize the need to improve parental awareness from the very beginning of a child's development.