Ethnic inequalities in child oral health behaviours among five- and eight-year-old children from England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Abstract Aim To examine whether there are ethnic inequalities in child oral health behaviours and the role of parental socioeconomic status (SES) in explaining them. Methods Data from 2,186 five- and eight-year-olds of white, Asian, Black and other ethnicity, who participated in the 2013 Children's Dental Health Survey, were analysed. Parents reported their children's toothbrushing and dental attendance. Logistic regression was used to explore ethnic inequalities in child behaviours, adjusting for demographic factors and parental SES. Results Children of Asian ethnicity were less likely to start brushing early in life (odds ratio OR: 0.25; 95% confidence interval CI: 0.15-0.43), brush regularly (OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.32-0.97) and have a check-up last year (OR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.16-0.49) than those of white ethnicity. Children of Black ethnicity were less likely to have a check-up last year (OR: 0.39; 95% CI 0.17-0.89) than those of white ethnicity. Children of other ethnicity were less likely to start brushing early in life (OR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.23-0.77) and brush regularly (OR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.23-0.87) than children of white ethnicity. Inequalities in toothbrushing frequency and regular dental attendance between children of Black and white ethnicity were fully attenuated after adjustment for parental SES. Conclusion There were ethnic inequalities in child toothbrushing and dental visiting, with children of Asian ethnicity being the most affected. Parental SES only explained part of these inequalities.