Tooth brushing in school and dental caries: a cohort study

Authors

  • Ana Paula Rodrigues Médica de Saúde Pública; Centro de Saúde de Oliveira do Bairro, Unidade de Saúde Pública, Agrupamento de Centros de Saúde do Baixo Vouga I.
  • Patrícia Reis Higienista oral; Centro de Saúde de Ovar, Unidade de Saúde Pública, Agrupamento de Centros de Saúde do Baixo Vouga III.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v28i6.10981

Keywords:

Toothbrushing, Dental Caries, Cohort Study

Abstract

Objectives: This study evaluated the role of tooth-brushing in school in reducing dental caries in childhood. Study design: Historical cohort study Setting: Public schools in Ovar, Portugal Participants: Four year old children enrolled in public schools in Ovar Methods: 62 children were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of children who brushed their teeth in school du- ring the 21-month study period. The comparison group consisted of children who did not brush teeth at school during the same period. Data were obtained from oral health assessments conducted as part of the National Oral Health Promotion Program. We compared the number of new cavities, decayed, missing and filled deciduous teeth (dmft) and decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) between the two groups, after 29 months of follow-up. Results: The risk of dental caries after 29 months was 50,0% for children who brushed their teeth at school and 62,5% for chil- dren who did not brush their teeth at school. The relative risk was 0,75 (95% CI: 0,42 to 1,33). The dmft score for children who brushed their teeth was 1,27 (95% CI: 0,69 to 1,94) and 2,28 (95% CI: 1,39 to 3,19) for those who did not brush (p = 0,078). The DMFT score was 0,37 (95% CI: 0,08 to 0,71) for children who their brushed teeth and 0,63 (95% CI: 0,29 - 1,03) for tho- se who did not brush (p = 0,315). Discussion: No statistically significant association was found between tooth-brushing in school and reduction in the risk of dental caries, possibly because of the small sample size size.

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Published

2012-11-01

Issue

Vol. 28 No. 6 (2012): Revista Portuguesa de Medicina Geral e Familiar

Section

Original Research

License

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How to Cite

Tooth brushing in school and dental caries: a cohort study. (2012). Portuguese Journal of Family Medicine and General Practice, 28(6), 403-8. https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v28i6.10981