title: [Oral health related knowledge and health behavior of parents and school children].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The family provides the background for developing behaviors, attitudes and knowledge related to oral health of children. The aim of this study was to compare oral health behavior of parents and their children and to asses the impact of parental behavior on children's oral health.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 99 parent--child pairs (12 to 15 years old). Data on oral health behavior, knowledge and attitudes regarding oral hygiene, fluorides and nutrition of parents and their children were collected by questionnaires. The parental dental health was assessed according to self-reported data on tooth loss and prosthodontic rehabilitation, while the dental status of children was determined by clinical examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The parents reported the use of dental floss (p < 0.001) and mouth rinses (p < 0.05) more often than their children and they had better knowledge on fluorides. Approximately one third of parents thought they should not control sugar consumption of their child. There was a statistically significant correlation between parental oral hygiene and their habit to control the child in brushing with the child's oral health status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral health education activities directed towards the prevention of risk factors for developing caries should involve both parents and their children, because parental behavior is a significant predictor of children's oral health.
authors.affiliation: Odeljenje za decju i preventivnu stomatologiju, Univerzitet Privredna akademija Novi Sad, Stomatoloski fakultet Pancevo, Pancevo. majajevtic@open.telekom.rs
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lalić
authors.forename: Ema
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aleksić
authors.forename: Mihajlo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gajić
authors.forename: Doka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malesević
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015438:Health Behavior; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires