Oral symptoms perceived by parents of children with dental avoidance: a comparative exploratory study

Abstract

Introduction: Parents are responsible for developing good nutrition, good hygiene habits and regular visits to the dentist by children to ensure optimal oral health. Objective: to explore the relationship between dental avoidance and the frequency of oral symptoms perceived by parents. Methods: Exploratory study carried out in a convenience sample of 78 participants between 6-11 years old. Oral symptoms, the influence of oral health on daily life and the oral health status perceived by parents were analyzed using absolute and relative frequencies. Results: Results: 51.9% of the participants were male, the average age was 6.4±0.3 years. The most frequent symptoms in the group of children with dental avoidance were pain, bleeding gums, sores/wounds, food stuck to the palate and food between teeth; bad breath occurred similarly in both groups. Conclusions: These interim findings suggest that oral symptoms perceived by parents are more frequent in children with dental avoidance.