Oral Care Message Weakens as Children Age
Oral Care Message Weakens as Children AgeResults from a public opinion survey issued by Oral Health America (OHA) reveal the messages about oral health care children receive from parents and schools declines steadily as children grow older. The poll showed
Oral Care Message Weakens as Children Age
Results from a public opinion survey issued by Oral Health America (OHA) reveal the messages about oral health care children receive from parents and schools declines steadily as children grow older. The poll showed that 65% of elementary school students received oral health education at school, but only 36% of middle school students reported they had received similar instruction. Among high school students, the number who reported they had received dental care instruction at school plummeted to 19%.
According to the poll, 59% of children between ages 8 and 12 reported they received daily reminders to brush their teeth, while only 15% of teenagers reported receiving the same direction.
OHA President Beth Truett suggests schools can help spread the oral health message more consistently across age groups by incorporating instruction in health and science classes at all grade levels — specifically focusing on the oral-systemic link and demonstrating how plaque affects teeth and gums. Older children, Truett explains, should understand the importance of keeping their mouths clean, as well as how poor oral health can impact appearance and employability.
Results from the OHA survey also indicated 65% of parents who responded felt the role of schools in educating children about oral health is either “extremely important” or “very important.” Those attitudes were reflected evenly among parents regardless of the age of their children who attended school.
Hispanic parents comprised a subset that was polled in the OHA survey. According to the survey results, 72% of Hispanic parents look to schools to reinforce the message about the importance of oral health. Yolanda Bonta, DMD, MS, MS, executive director of the Hispanic Dental Association, urges parents to spend two minutes twice each day with younger children to make sure they practice brushing and flossing correctly.
Other results taken from the survey showed 87% of parents say children should brush their teeth twice or more daily, while only 64% of children reported that level of compliance. Parents who participated in the poll also said children should floss their teeth at least once daily, while only 30% of children who responded to the poll indicated they actually floss that frequently.
Source: Oral Health America
