Impact of Oral Health Education on the Hygiene Awareness of Preschool Children and Their Parents.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of oral health education on the hygiene awareness of preschoolers as well as their parents. One hundred preschool children who participated in the study were divided into two groups by a randomised numerical table method. The control group (n = 50) received conventional oral health education, while the observation group (n = 50) received simulation education on oral protection. Adverse oral behaviour, toothbrushing and dental health status of children before and after health education, and oral health knowledge acquisition after children's health education in the two groups are compared. Patients' hygiene awareness and satisfaction after parental health education were also compared. The children in the observation group had fewer pacifiers at bedtime, fewer sweet behaviours at bedtime, and fewer lip and finger biting after the health education. Correct brushing posture, use of fluoride toothpaste, brushing time, and number of daily brushing times increased in the observation group after the children's health education, and all of these were more significant in the observation group. Dental plaque index, gingival index, gingivitis rate, and caries rate were reduced in the observation group of children after health education. The rate of children's knowledge of oral health education after health education in the observation group was higher than that of the control group in terms of the correct way of brushing teeth, effective prevention of dental caries by correct brushing, bilateral chewing for daily eating, and rinsing the mouth after meals. Oral hygiene awareness and satisfaction with oral health education after parental health education were higher in the observation group than in the control group. Simulation education on oral protection is beneficial for children to brush their teeth correctly, correct bad oral habits and improve dental health. The work was not funded by any funding. The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest regarding this work.