2006-18-3-141-148 - Saudi Dental Journal

ISSN (Print) 1013-9052
EISSN 1658-3558

The Saudi Dental Journal,
P.O. Box 52500,
Riyadh 11563,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Tel.	966-1-467-7328
Fax.	933-1-467-7308 / 966-1-467-7534
Email	saudidj@ksu.edu.sa

Oral hygiene practices and dietary habits among children

with Down's Syndrome in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Al Johara A. Al-Hussyeen, BDS, CAGS(Pedo) MS, DScD
Salwa A. Al-Sadhan, BDS, MSc
Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the oral hygiene practices and dietary habits among a sample of children with Down's syndrome in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and to determine whether the mother's educational level and occupational status are related to these practices and habits. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and fifty self-administered questionnaires were distributed to the children's families and 225 questionnaires were returned. RESULTS: The results showed that nearly 75% of the children brushed their teeth once or more daily and about 90% used the toothbrush. Of the surveyed sample, 60% received parental help with tooth brushing, and about 12% were helped by the nanny or nurse. Children of mothers with university education were found to brush their own teeth or depend on the nanny or nurse's help (P = 0.008, P = 0.001 respectively). Also, children of working mothers were found to brush their own teeth or rely on the nanny or nurse's help (P = 0.034, P < 0.0001 respectively). Only 7.3% of the mothers gave their children sweets or sweet snacks three times a day or more and 7% gave them sweet drinks frequently. No statistically significant differences, in these practices, were found in relation to the mother's educational levels or occupational status. The practice of giving sweets as a reward was low among the surveyed sample and the highest percentage (55.7%) of the respondents gave their children in-between meal snacks once/day. Significant differences were found only in the frequency of consumption of sweets and sweet snacks between the children of working and non-working mothers (P= 0.027). CONCLUSIONS:This study demonstrated that the overall level of oral hygiene practices and dietary habits among Down's syndrome children was satisfactory and that assisting the children with tooth brushing would improve their oral hygiene.

Saudi Dental Journal 2006;18(3):141-148.