Analysis of the impact of the level of education and oral health habits of mothers on oral health and the level of oral hygiene of children

Children in early childhood acquire habits regarding oral health which in later life are very difficult to change. These habits children learn from their parents or guardian, usually a mother. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the level of education and habits regarding oral health habits of mothers in the oral health of children and their level of oral hygiene. The study included a total of 146 pairs of children (aged 5 years) and their mothers. All respondents were from the territory of Kosovska Mitrovica. The education level of mothers and their habits related to oral health, as well as the habits of children related to oral health were determined using a questionnaire. Oral hygiene in children is determined by clinical examination using a plaque index after Silness-LOE. From the total number of mothers 52.7% had secondary education, and 47.3% had university graduates. Test results showed that the level of education of mothers had a crucial importance to the quality of oral hygiene in children. From the total number of surveyed children, 53.4% of children had a PI ≤1, and 46.6% of children PI ˃1. The results indicate that children of mothers who brush their teeth two or three times a day also brush their teeth twice or more a day (62%), as well as visits to the dentist mothers in the past 12 months has an impact on more regular visits of children at the dentist. Mother's assistance during teeth washing is very important by the data that 69% of children who brush their teeth with mother's assistance has a plaque index ≤1. Toothpaste with fluoride is used by 76% of children. Although children of mothers who have better habits related to oral health also have better habits and better oral hygiene, the situation is far from ideal, attention should be directed towards educating parents, and thereby indirectly the children.