%0 Journal Article
%T Oral Health Behavior of Parents as a Predictor of Oral Health Status of Their Children
%A Elham Bozorgmehr
%A Abolghasem Hajizamani
%A Tayebeh Malek Mohammadi
%J ISRN Dentistry
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/741783
%X Introduction. It is widely acknowledged that the behavior of parents affects their childrenĄ¯s health. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between oral health behavior of parents and oral health status and behavior of their children in a sample of preschool children in Iran. Method and Material. A random sample of over-five-year-old preschool children and their parents were enrolled in the study. Selection of schools was by clustering method. Parents were asked to fill a piloted questionnaire which included demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, oral health behaviors of children and their parents. Oral health status of children was examined. The parent and their children oral health relationship were tested using regression and correlation analysis. Results. About 222 parents and children participated in the study. There was a significant relationship between history of having dental problems in parents and dmft index in their children ( ). There was a significant relationship between parental frequency of tooth brushing and child frequency of tooth brushing ( ); however, there was no significant relationship between parental frequency of dental visits and those of their children ( ). Conclusion. The study concluded that some important health behaviors in parents, such as tooth brushing habits are important determinants of these behaviors in their young children. So promoting parent knowledge and attitude could affect their children oral health behavior and status. 1. Introduction It is widely acknowledged that the behavior of parents, and in particular mothers, affects their childrenĄ¯s health [1]. It is also about oral health that the role of parents is very important, because they are the main caregivers of oral health to their children during the first three years of life, even in preschool, parents are still the main supplier of childrenĄ¯s oral health [2]. Some factors such as maternal education, occupation, age, current knowledge, attitude, and behavior can provide insight for improving their health habits and their childrenĄ¯s health indirectly [3]. The relationship between dental health of mothers and dental caries in their children can be explained by the influence of faulty dietary and hygiene habits on infants as well as by infection of the childĄ¯s mouth by maternal bacteria [4, 5]. Therefore, tooth brushing habits of mothers, dietary habits, and food choices are directly associated with those of their children [5, 6]. Dental care professionals accept that efforts aimed at improving parental oral health behaviors could
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.dentistry/2013/741783/