[Perceptions and attitudes among parents and guardians on the use of pediatric medicines and their cariogenic and erosive potential].
The study assesses the perceptions of parents/guardians on the use of pediatric medicines and their cariogenic/erosive potential, interviewing them on the relationship between the use of pediatric medicines and cavities/dental erosion, as well as oral hygiene procedures after the medication. Among the interviewed parents/guardians (n=86), 24 (27.9%) mentioned the sour taste of pediatric medication, 51 (59.3%) the bitter taste, and 56 (65.1%) considered them sweet, although only 16 (28.6%) of these parents/guardians brushed their children's teeth after the medication (Fisher's Exact; p>0.05). Moreover, only 18 (20.9%) of the parents/guardians performed oral hygiene practices after the medication, of whom 8 (44.4%) received previous instructions (Fisher's Exact; p<0.05). The association between taking medications and dental caries or structural dental defects was mentioned by 61 (70.9%) of the parents/guardians, with 24 (39.3%) of them justifying this association through the presence of sugar in the formulations. Although parents/guardians consider medicines to be sweet substances and relate their use to dental caries and tooth structure flaws, most of them do not brush their children's teeth after taking medications and are unable to establish a clear cause/effect relationship for this association.
Neves
Beatriz Gonçalves
BG
Departamento de Odontopediatria e Ortodontia, Faculdade de Odontologia, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ. rorefa@terra.com.br
Pierro
Viviane Santos da Silva
VS
Maia
Lucianne Cople
LC
D001290:Attitude; D017028:Caregivers; D002326:Cariogenic Agents; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000139:chemically induced; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000139:chemically induced
D002326:Cariogenic Agents