Oral hygiene habits and use of fluoride in developmental age: role of parents and impact on their children

Introduction. In healthcare, the need to pay more attention to the achievement of two objectives within the society arises: health promotion and prevention in terms of nutrition, good education, sport, and health education. Scientific evidence shows that adequate health standards must be learned since childhood through the help of parents and appropriate school projects. Parental intervention must be appropriate to support the responsibility of their children’s health. In oral health, it has been established for many years that there is a correlation between parental behaviors and lifestyles and children’s attitude. The aim of this study is to verify the close relation between behaviors, habits, lifestyles, and the knowledge of parents about their oral health and, consequently, their focus and care for their own children’s oral health. Furthermore, the awareness of parents about the importance and use of fluorine was to be determined. Materials and Methods. The study lasted 15 months and was conducted from April 2018 to July 2019: an anonymous 29-question questionnaire was administered to all parents who accompanied their children (aged between 3 and 12 years) going under treatment in the Pediatric Dentistry Unit of the University Hospital Policlinico Umberto I, Rome. Anamnestic data, sociodemographic context (e.g., educational level and occupation), oral health habits, and prevention of parents and children and fluoride knowledge were investigated. The study received ethical approval. 204 questionnaires were collected. The data gathered were recorded with a specifically designed computer program and collected and analyzed using a Microsoft Excel 10 database. Data were evaluated using standard statistical analysis software; descriptive statistics including mean ± SD values and percentage were calculated for each variable. The relationship between the age of parents, between mother or father and the parents’ degree of education levels, and the knowledge for their own children’s oral health was explored using the chi-square test of homogeneity and Fisher’s exact test ( value of < 0.05 considered as statistically significant). Results. From the acquired data, it is possible to deduce that the major respondents were mothers aged from 36 to 45, while only a small part were fathers aged above 45 years. Questions related to parents’ oral hygiene habits were included in the questionnaire, and from the sample taken into consideration, it emerges that 64.7% of the respondents (67.1% mothers and 57.7% fathers) periodically attend a dental office for a checkup, 20.9% tend to postpone the treatment, and 15.2% go there just for emergency. Some of the questions showed that 80% of the interviewed subjects use fluoride toothpaste for their child’s oral hygiene. Conclusion. Prevention in childhood, in addition to being synonymous with monitoring the oral health of the child, means first of all to pay attention to parents who are the main behavioral reference. It emerged that there is no adequate knowledge about fluorine, especially when the subjects have a low educational level. A role of fundamental importance for the diffusion of adequate concepts in the field of oral hygiene is covered, according to the data received from the study carried out, by the dentist and dental hygienist

Salivary Test Assessment in an Oncohematological Pediatric Sample: A Case Control Study

Background: In recent years, the incidence of neoplastic diseases in children has increased significantly. Immunodepression triggers undesirable effects in the oral cavity such as mucositis, opportunistic infections, oral bleeding, xerostomia, dysgeusia, decay, dental malformations and pain. Objective: We aim to assess, through salivary tests, the quality of saliva in pediatric patients affected by oncohematological diseases and treated with chemo/radiotherapy compared to non-treated subjects. Methods: A total of 20 subjects aged between 5 and 18 years, with oncological pathologies undergoing radio and/or chemotherapy, were evaluated. The control group consisted of 20 healthy children of the same age. The two groups of subjects were asked to undergo salivary tests. Descriptive statistics were computed for each item. Fisher’s exact test was conducted to compare case and control groups. Results: Subjects treated with chemo/radiotherapy had a lower pH and therefore a higher salivary acidity that predisposes to caries and the oral hygiene of children with oncohematological diseases was more deficient than that of the control group. Conclusions: The early detection of these indicators, and the prevention carried out to limit their severity, is an important aspect of the comprehensive care of oncohematological subjects. Pediatric dentists can play a crucial a role enabling good quality of life during cancer therapy

Oral health and quality of life correlated in a population of female prisoners in the city of Latina

For many years the WHO has dealt with the issue of prisoners health through the publication of specific reports that outline a picture made up of a rather young population suffering mainly from psychic, infectious and oral diseases. Women in prison often come from unfavorable environments and many of them have suffered psycologic problem, from alcohol or drug addiction and inadequate health care prior to detention. and bad condition of oral cavity are nothing more than the direct consequence. Moreover this population presents a greater risk of traumas of the complex gold-facial, due to the health implications of the frequent episodes of violence and abuse that they are found. The aim of the study is to pay particular attention to the specific health needs of the inmates and to guarantee a system of promotion of sensitive oral health, recognizing the opportunity to strengthen and support the care of one’s own person, promoting the recovery of esteem and safety. Methods: The study took place at the Latina District House “in which prisoners awaiting trial are present and those sentenced to sentences of less than five years. Inside the prison there are also 35 prisoners belonging to the high security AS2 and AS3 circuit, traditionally dedicated to the detainees belonging to organized terrorist and mafia groups. Three different questionnaires were used, administered in a face to face interview mode: EGOHI D II - Full Standard Clinical Survey From 2007, which collects clinical data such as CPI and DMFT; Questionnaire OHIP-14, which assesses the quality of life in relation to oral health and the EGOHID Adult Questionnaire which collects data on various habits and lifestyles. The informed consent was made verbally for each detainee who took part in the visit, and for completing the questionnaires. Results: The total female sample is 26 inmates. The age range is between 20 and 79 years with an average age of 42 and 96.4% is a smoker. 96.2% of the prisoners (25) are Italian nationals, 3.8% (one inmate) of foreign nationality. The sample presents a DMFT of 13.84 and poor management of soft tissue presenting generalized loss of attack in 61.6% of cases, a plaque index corresponding to 3 in 65.5% and accumulation of generalized tarate in 57, 7% of cases. The data related to the OHIP-14 show the presence in more than 50% of the sample of painful points inside the mouth, difficulty in relaxing and chewing. In fact, in 62% of the cases the last dental visit was requested for an emergency intervention. Conclus ionS: Very often visit of the oral cavity is able to intercept situations of abuse and violence otherwise silenced. Good oral health also makes it possible to communicate effectively and relate positively with the community once the sentence has ended, also in relation to a potential job placement, possibly incurring a minor percentage in abuses and acts of psycho-physical violence. For this reason, the promotion of a management and prevention campaign in the field of oral health is desirable to improve the living conditions during and after the period of detention