Parents and caregivers' knowledge and attitudes toward children's toothbrushing

Introduction: Fluoride prevents tooth decay, but especially in young children, it is important to balance the anticaries effect of fluoride toothpastes versus the risk of dental fluorosis. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze parents’ and caregivers’ knowledge and attitudes toward their children’s toothbrushing habits from 12 to 71 months of age, as well as to verify their knowledge about fluoride and toothpastes’ dispensed amount. Methods: A semi-structured interview script was applied to a convenience sample of parents and caregivers (n = 63) at the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic of a public university. Respondents were asked to simulate the amount of toothpaste used in their children’s brushing. Results were presentedwith absolute and relative frequencies. Results: Regarding their children’s toothbrushing, 49.2% performed oral hygiene of their children; 31.7% mentioned that their children brushed under adult supervision; and 19.1% said their children brushed alone. When asked if they had already received guidance regarding theadequate amount of toothpaste to be dispensed, 54% stated they were never oriented. In 74.6% of cases, the amount dispensed exceeded the recommended dose for preschoolers. In addition, 57.1% reported that the toothpaste is within the reach of the child. Of the respondents, 66.7% pointed out the role of fluoride incaries prevention, and 73% were unaware of its toxicity. Conclusion: In general, parents had good oral hygiene practices with their children. However, most respondents did not use the appropriate amount of toothpaste for their children’s age and were unaware of fluoride toxicity, although they could identify its purpose.