ASSESSMENT OF THE BRUSHING HABITS IN CHILDREN BELOW 6 YEARS-A SURVEY IN SEMI URBAN AREAS

Aim: To do a survey on the brushing habits of children below 6 years in semi urban areas. Objective: This study investigates the brushing habits in children below 6 years living in semi urban areas. It also shows the percentage of people affected with caries. Background: Brushing teeth is an important part of dental care routine. Improper brushing habits results in the formation of plaque which eventually leads to the formation of cavities. Proper brushing habits should be taught to children for maintaining their oral hygiene and to prevent cavities. This study shows the amount of exposure about the benefits of proper brushing among parents and children belonging to semi urban areas. Methods: A survey was conducted among randomly selected 118 school children, in a semi urban area (Chittoor district) whose age is below six years. The questionnaire was given to parents as children would not be able to understand or respond to it. Reasons: One of the major causes for the occurrence of cavities in children is poor brushing habits. This study is to create awareness among parents about the importance of proper brushing habits and to train their children to develop good oral hygiene. Results: Among 118 children, 82 brushed their teeth only once a day i.e. 69.49%.Majority didn't use other cleaning materials like mouthwash, interdental brush and floss (96 children i.e. 81.36%), 21 children i.e. 17.79% used mouthwash and 1 girl uses floss i.e. 0.84% .Only 20 children (16.95%) visit dentist regularly, 80 children don't visit (67.79%) and 18 children (15.25%) visited dentist at times but not regularly. Conclusion: This study exposes that there is a lacunae in the awareness of oral hygiene but not to alarming levels.However further dental awareness measures needs to be initiated to address this issue. INTRODUCTION Brushing teeth is an important part of dental care routine. Among oral diseases, dental caries is a prevalent dental problem among children [1]. Improper brushing habits results in the formation of plaque which eventually leads to the formation of cavities [2]. Proper brushing habits should be taught to children for maintaining proper oral hygiene and to prevent cavities [3,4]. People living in developing countries, and concomitantly, of lower socioeconomic status have a lacunae in oral health awareness mirrored in their practice of oral hygiene habits [5]. This study was done to explore the amount of exposure about the benefits of proper brushing habits among parents and children belonging to semi urban areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was carried among randomly selected 118 school children, in a semi urban area (Chittoor district) whose age is below six years. The questionnaire was given to parents as children would not be able to understand or respond to it. Permission was obtained from the school’sheadmistress to conduct the survey. This survey was done after obtaining parents consent. The questionnaire involved around 15 questions from which the brushing habits of children was assessed. RESULTS The responses from 118 parents were collected and the data was analysed and has been tabulated along with charts for each question. Among 118 children, 82 brushed their teeth only once a day i.e. 69.49% and 36 children i.e. 30.51% brushed their teeth twice a day (graph 1). Majority use toothbrush and toothpaste for cleaning their teeth (106 children i.e. 89.83%), 11 children i.e. 9.32% use finger and 0.85% i.e. 1 boy uses tooth powder for cleaning his teeth (graph 2). International Journal of Current Advanced Research ISSN: O: 2319-6475, ISSN: P: 2319 – 6505, Impact Factor: SJIF: 5.995 Available Online at www.journalijcar.org Volume 6; Issue 3; March 2017; Page No. 2713-2716 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijcar.2017.2716.0085 Article History: Received 10 December, 2016 Received in revised form 16January, 2017 Accepted 4 February, 2017 Published online 28 March, 2017


INTRODUCTION
Brushing teeth is an important part of dental care routine. Among oral diseases, dental caries is a prevalent dental problem among children [1]. Improper brushing habits results in the formation of plaque which eventually leads to the formation of cavities [2]. Proper brushing habits should be taught to children for maintaining proper oral hygiene and to prevent cavities [3,4]. People living in developing countries, and concomitantly, of lower socio-economic status have a lacunae in oral health awareness mirrored in their practice of oral hygiene habits [5]. This study was done to explore the amount of exposure about the benefits of proper brushing habits among parents and children belonging to semi urban areas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was carried among randomly selected 118 school children, in a semi urban area (Chittoor district) whose age is below six years. The questionnaire was given to parents as children would not be able to understand or respond to it. Permission was obtained from the school'sheadmistress to conduct the survey. This survey was done after obtaining parents consent. The questionnaire involved around 15 questions from which the brushing habits of children was assessed.

RESULTS
The responses from 118 parents were collected and the data was analysed and has been tabulated along with charts for each question. Among 118 children, 82 brushed their teeth only once a day i.e. 69.49% and 36 children i.e. 30.51% brushed their teeth twice a day (graph 1). Majority use toothbrush and toothpaste for cleaning their teeth (106 children i.e. 89.83%), 11 children i.e. 9.32% use finger and 0.85% i.e. 1 boy uses tooth powder for cleaning his teeth (graph 2).

INTRODUCTION
Brushing teeth is an important part of dental care routine. Among oral diseases, dental caries is a prevalent dental problem among children [1]. Improper brushing habits results in the formation of plaque which eventually leads to the formation of cavities [2]. Proper brushing habits should be taught to children for maintaining proper oral hygiene and to prevent cavities [3,4]. People living in developing countries, and concomitantly, of lower socio-economic status have a lacunae in oral health awareness mirrored in their practice of oral hygiene habits [5]. This study was done to explore the amount of exposure about the benefits of proper brushing habits among parents and children belonging to semi urban areas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was carried among randomly selected 118 school children, in a semi urban area (Chittoor district) whose age is below six years. The questionnaire was given to parents as children would not be able to understand or respond to it. Permission was obtained from the school'sheadmistress to conduct the survey. This survey was done after obtaining parents consent. The questionnaire involved around 15 questions from which the brushing habits of children was assessed.

RESULTS
The responses from 118 parents were collected and the data was analysed and has been tabulated along with charts for each question. Among 118 children, 82 brushed their teeth only once a day i.e. 69.49% and 36 children i.e. 30.51% brushed their teeth twice a day (graph 1). Majority use toothbrush and toothpaste for cleaning their teeth (106 children i.e. 89.83%), 11 children i.e. 9.32% use finger and 0.85% i.e. 1 boy uses tooth powder for cleaning his teeth (graph 2).

INTRODUCTION
Brushing teeth is an important part of dental care routine. Among oral diseases, dental caries is a prevalent dental problem among children [1]. Improper brushing habits results in the formation of plaque which eventually leads to the formation of cavities [2]. Proper brushing habits should be taught to children for maintaining proper oral hygiene and to prevent cavities [3,4]. People living in developing countries, and concomitantly, of lower socio-economic status have a lacunae in oral health awareness mirrored in their practice of oral hygiene habits [5]. This study was done to explore the amount of exposure about the benefits of proper brushing habits among parents and children belonging to semi urban areas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was carried among randomly selected 118 school children, in a semi urban area (Chittoor district) whose age is below six years. The questionnaire was given to parents as children would not be able to understand or respond to it. Permission was obtained from the school'sheadmistress to conduct the survey. This survey was done after obtaining parents consent. The questionnaire involved around 15 questions from which the brushing habits of children was assessed.

RESULTS
The responses from 118 parents were collected and the data was analysed and has been tabulated along with charts for each question. Among 118 children, 82 brushed their teeth only once a day i.e. 69.49% and 36 children i.e. 30.51% brushed their teeth twice a day (graph 1). Majority use toothbrush and toothpaste for cleaning their teeth (106 children i.e. 89.83%), 11 children i.e. 9.32% use finger and 0.85% i.e. 1 boy uses tooth powder for cleaning his teeth (graph 2).

DISCUSSION
This study shows that only 30.51% brushed their teeth twice a day i.e. there is lack of awareness among the public (in semi urban areas) about the importance of brushing twice a day.This is in contrast with a similar study by Mohammed Ahad et al [5] [7] In a study done by Navneet Grewal on 100 Indian children, only 35% never visited dentist [8] but in this study only 32.2% visited dentist which is similar to the study done by Zhu L P et al 35.3% 12 years and 20.2% 18 years visited dentist [9] A positive result that was brought out was 34.74% had caries which is in total contrast with the study done by Meenu Mittal et al in Gurgaon on 5 year aged children wherein 68.5% had dental caries [10].

CONCLUSION
This study exposes that there is a lacunae in the awareness of oral hygiene but not to alarming levels. There is still a need for awareness initiative for oral health at the grassroots level in primary educational institutions with the co-operation and implementation of good oral health practices.A little extra care by the parent or caretaker regarding oral hygiene can give drastic results in reduction of dental caries. In children, the occurrence of periodontal diseases is minimal. Hence, this study focused only on the brushing habits and prevalence of caries.