21 June 2026 : Clinical Research
Assessment of Oral Health Literacy of Parents Regarding Their Children's Oral Health: A Cross-Sectional Study
Minal M. Kshirsagar ABCE 1, Sandeep K. Pimpale CF 2, Shahabe Saquib Abullais DF 3, Suheel Manzoor Baba D 4, Ahmed A. Albariqi D 3, Sadatullah Syed CF 5,6, Abdulmajeed Almuaddi E 3, Sultan Alanazi B 7, Khalid K. Alshamrani F 7, Abdul Ahad Ghaffar Khan
E 8*
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.952638
Med Sci Monit 2026; 32:e952638
Table 2 Parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding children’s oral health.
| Question | Response options | Number of responses (n) | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. When should be the first visit of your child to dentist? | – When first tooth erupts | 150 | 21.7% |
| – When all milk teeth erupt | 200 | 28.9% | |
| – When all permanent teeth erupt | 100 | 14.5% | |
| – Don’t know | 242 | 35.0% | |
| 2. When should you start cleaning your child’s mouth? | – When first tooth erupts | 243 | 35.1% |
| – When all milk teeth erupt | 200 | 28.9% | |
| – When all permanent teeth erupt | 50 | 7.2% | |
| – Don’t know | 199 | 28.8% | |
| 3. Do you know when the first tooth erupts in the oral cavity? | – 6–9 months | 300 | 43.3% |
| – After 1 year | 100 | 14.5% | |
| – Within 1 year | 150 | 21.7% | |
| – Don’t know | 142 | 20.5% | |
| 4. Which of the following factor/s lead to mal-aligned teeth? | – Genetics | 100 | 14.5% |
| – Thumb sucking | 50 | 7.2% | |
| – Mouth breathing | 150 | 21.7% | |
| – All of the above | 392 | 56.6% | |
| 5. Do you supervise your child’s tooth brushing? | – Yes | 542 | 78.3% |
| – No | 150 | 21.7% | |
| 6. Which of the following factor/s causes dental caries/cavities? | – Germ/bacteria | 100 | 14.5% |
| – Excess sugar/sweets | 50 | 7.2% | |
| – Sticky food | 103 | 14.9% | |
| – All of the above | 439 | 63.4% | |
| 7. Do you know poor oral health can lead to poor general health? | – Yes | 500 | 72.3% |
| – No | 192 | 27.7% | |
| 8. What will you prefer in case of milk teeth? | – Consult general dentist | 200 | 28.9% |
| – Consult pediatric dentist | 250 | 36.1% | |
| – Leave as it is milk teeth | 100 | 14.5% | |
| – Don’t know | 142 | 20.5% | |
| 9. Do you think your child should wear a mouthguard while playing? | – Agree | 300 | 43.3% |
| – Disagree | 200 | 28.9% | |
| – Neither agree nor disagree | 192 | 27.7% | |
| 10. Do you think use of fluoridated toothpaste prevents tooth decay? | – Agree | 400 | 57.8% |
| – Disagree | 150 | 21.7% | |
| – Neither agree nor disagree | 142 | 20.5% | |
| 11. Which method do you teach your child for brushing their teeth? | – Horizontal/scrubbing | 300 | 43.3% |
| – Circular | 200 | 28.9% | |
| – Combination | 100 | 14.5% | |
| – Method doesn’t matter | 92 | 13.3% | |
| 12. When do you take your child to dentist? | – Every 6 months | 200 | 28.9% |
| – Every year | 150 | 21.7% | |
| – When it is required | 250 | 36.1% | |
| – Not regularly | 92 | 13.3% | |
| 13. When do you change your child’s toothbrush? | – Every 6 months | 225 | 32.5% |
| – Every year | 100 | 14.5% | |
| – Every month | 55 | 7.9% | |
| – When bristles fray out | 312 | 45.1% | |
| 14. When do you give sweets to your child? | – In between meals | 200 | 28.9% |
| – During meals | 150 | 21.7% | |
| – Before going to bed | 100 | 14.5% | |
| – Don’t know | 242 | 35.0% | |
| 15. Your first course of action when your child complains of toothache? | – Give painkiller | 150 | 21.7% |
| – Consult dentist | 400 | 57.8% | |
| – Stop sweets | 50 | 7.2% | |
| – Don’t know | 92 | 13.3% |