Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine if the tooth brushing frequency and use of fluoridated toothpaste of the mother and father were associated with the tooth brushing frequency and use of fluoridated toothpaste for their 1-year-old child.

Methods: This cross-sectional study is part of the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study. Questionnaire data were obtained from 1672 mothers and 867 fathers on tooth brushing and use of fluoridated toothpaste, age, education, number of siblings and parity (when the child was 1-year-old). For 763 families (mother and father), data from both parents were available. Tooth brushing was dichotomized to at least twice daily (2x day) and less than 2x day, and use of fluoridated toothpaste for child to at least once daily and less than once daily. The association between brushing of child's teeth (both parents less than 2x day) and use of fluoridated toothpaste for the child (both parents less than once daily) with parent's own tooth brushing was modelled with logistic regression analyses adjusted for family-related variables (parents' age and education, number of older siblings) using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: Families in which both parents brushed their own teeth less than 2x day were more likely to brush their child's teeth less than 2x day than families in which both parents brushed their own teeth 2x day (OR = 9.23; 95%CI = 5.42–15.69). The likelihood of not brushing the child's teeth 2x day was less strong when at least one of the parents brushed his/her own teeth 2x day (mother 2x day: OR = 1.97; 95%CI = 1.25–3.10; father 2x day: OR = 2.85; 95%CI = 1.51–5.40).

Conclusions: Less frequent tooth brushing of both mothers and fathers was strongly associated with less frequent tooth brushing of their child. When educating parents on child oral home care, parents' own home care and inclusion of fathers also need more attention.