• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.93-106
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• 2010

Objectives : The study examined mothers' oral health knowledge and oral health management behavior to their children that affect directly children's oral health to prepare basic aiming at children. Methods : Therefore, a survey of 235 mothers in 10 kindergartens located in Seoul was conducted by self-administered questionnaires. Results : As to mothers' oral health knowledge, the correct-answer rate for questions about tooth-decay was highest, and the level of 'middle (5-7 points)' was the most common with 50.0%. Regarding oral health knowledge according to mothers' general characteristics, the higher academic background and family's monthly earnings were, the higher oral health knowledge was. It showed a statistically significant difference(p<.01). In terms of mothers' oral health management behavior to their children, 79.1% of mothers who had the visiting experience in the dentist's for caries prevention was highest. As to the number of brushing, the twice was highest with 51.2%, and regarding brushing time 2min was highest52.6%. Also, the rate of using the fluoride toothpaste was 68.4%, and the rate of mothers who helped their children's brushing was 83.3%. As to the oral health management behavior to their children by mothers' oral health knowledge, mothers with higher oral health knowledge used the fluoride toothpaste showing that there was a significant difference(p<.01). Also, mothers with higher oral health knowledge helped more children's brushing, so that there was a significant difference(p<.05). Regarding the oral health management behavior to their children according to mothers' visiting experience in the dentist's, mothers who visited the dentist's during the recent one year had higher visiting experience of dentist's for children's caries prevention(p<.01) and longer time of brushing by 3min(p<.05), and helped their children's brushing a lot. The findings showed a significant difference(p<.001). Conclusions : As the results above, as mothers' oral health knowledge and oral health management behaviors to their children affect closely children's oral health, more systematic, specific and active oral health programs should be provided to mothers.