Pattern of fluoride-containing dentifrice use and associated factors in preschool children from Ijuí, South Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the pattern of fluoride-containing dentifrice use and associated factors in Brazilian preschoolers.


METHODS
A structured questionnaire was answered by parents of 432 children, who were aged 2 to 6 years, from 12 public preschools in Ijuí, South Brazil. Primary outcomes were age of starting fluoride-containing dentifrice use and amount of dentifrice applied to the toothbrush. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to determine the factors associated with the main outcomes.


RESULTS
About 75% of the participants were introduced to fluoride-containing dentifrice before the age of 2 years. The current predominant amount of dentifrice used was obtained by transversal (57.7%), followed by longitudinal deposition on the toothbrush (33.6%), corresponding to 0.3 and 0.9 g of dentifrice, respectively. Previous dental visits and maternal education greater than 4 years were associated with the introduction of fluoride-containing dentifrice before 2 years of age. The probability of using dentifrice in amounts higher than the recommendations doubled in children aged 5 and 6 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral health interventions should reinforce the importance of early introduction of fluoride-containing dentifrice, especially in less-educated mothers. Furthermore, the amount of dentifrice should be reduced to maximise the caries-preventive effect while minimising dental fluorosis.
Feldens
Carlos Alberto
CA
Department of Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Lutheran University of Brazil, Porto Alegre-RS 90 035 121, Brazil. cafeldens@terra.com.br
Rösing
Cassiano Kuchenbecker
CK
dos Santos
Bianca Zimmermann
BZ
Cordeiro
Mabel Mariela Rodríguez
MM
D001938:Brazil; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018401:Sample Size; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000379:methods
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D003802:Dentifrices; D005459:Fluorides