Impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the oral health behaviour of young children.

Autor: Schuller AA; Center for Dentistry and Oral Hygiene, University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands.; TNO Child Health, Leiden, The Netherlands., Verlinden DAA; Center for Dentistry and Oral Hygiene, University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands., Reijneveld SA; TNO Child Health, Leiden, The Netherlands.; Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands., Vermaire JHE; TNO Child Health, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: International journal of dental hygiene [Int J Dent Hyg] 2024 Nov; Vol. 22 (4), pp. 933-938. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Apr 24.
DOI: 10.1111/idh.12808
Abstrakt: Aim: Children up to the age of 10 are dependant primarily on their caregivers for oral care; COVID-19 lockdowns may have disrupted this care. We therefore assessed whether the COVID-19 lockdown affected routine parental oral care for their children.
Methods: A short online survey regarding oral health behaviour and changes in the home setting during the COVID-19 lockdown was emailed to parents (n = 782, response 15%) participating in an existing study 'Healthy Teeth All Aboard (HTAA)'.
Results: During the lockdown, 29% of parents reported that they skipped their children's toothbrushing more often than before the lockdown, and 49% of the children were allowed to consume sugary snacks or drinks more often. These behaviours were not significantly associated with socio-economic status, country of birth of the mother, work situation of the parents, school attendance patterns or HTAA participation status.
Conclusion: The COVID-19 lockdown affected the daily oral hygiene routines of children, potentially increasing caries risk.
Clinical Relevance: Dental professionals should be aware of the potential impacts on oral health in children in the circumstance of a new lockdown. Parents should be made aware of the oral health consequences of a lockdown.
(© 2024 The Authors. International Journal of Dental Hygiene published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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