Parental Nutrition Literacy, Dental Anxiety and Children's Oral Health-Related Quality of Life: A Close Look

Background Oral health problems in early childhood are an important public health problem that affects both children and families. Factors such as parental socioeconomic status, education level, and nutritional habits play a critical role in determining children's oral health. Therefore, this study aimed to examine parental nutritional literacy and its impact on parental dental anxiety and child OHRQoL. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted with 459 parents of children aged 3–6 living in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. Data collection tools were sociodemographic form, Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) and Evaluation Instrument of Nutrition Literacy on Adults (EINLA). Data were analyzed in SPSS, using Student’s t test, Chi square test, and binary logistic regression models. Results High total parental nutrition literacy score (OR 4.01, 95% CI 1.60–10.50; p = 0.003) and sub-scales of GNK (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.38–4.08; p = 0.002), and FLNL (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.52–4.00; p < 0.001) were associated with high OHRQoL of children. Moreover, parents with higher total nutrition literacy scores, GNK, and RCI subscale had 61%, 51%, and 42% lower risks of MDAS, respectively. Conclusion Parental nutrition literacy is associated with their dental anxiety and child OHRQoL. Increasing parental nutritional literacy levels can contribute to oral health by enabling them to be a correct role model for their children. Therefore, raising parents' awareness of nutritional literacy and oral health can improve quality of life and help prevent oral health problems.