J Korean Acad Nurs. 2008 Dec;38(6):914-922. Korean.
Published online Dec 31, 2008.
Copyright © 2008 Korean Society of Nursing Science
Original Article

Effect of a Tooth-brushing Education Program on Oral Health of Preschool Children

Bok-Hee Kang,1 Sun-Nam Park,2 Kyeong-Yae Sohng,3 and Jung-Soon Moon3
    • 1Nurse, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Korea.
    • 2Assistant Professor, Seoul Women's College of Nursing, Seoul, Korea.
    • 3Professor, College of Nursing, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Received August 01, 2008; Accepted December 01, 2008.

Abstract

Purpose

To examine the effect of tooth-brushing education on the oral health of preschoolers.

Methods

A quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group was used. Two kindergartens were selected and 39 preschoolers from one kindergarten were assigned to the experimental group with tooth-brushing education and 39 from the other kindergarten to the control group. The tooth-brushing education program included 1 session on oral health education, individual tooth-brushing instruction for 1 week and supervised tooth-brushing after lunch for 4 weeks. Oral health behavior including use of tooth paste, tooth-brushing time and method of tooth-brushing, plague, streptococcus mutans, lactobacillus and dental caries were measured before and after the education. Fisher's exact test, t-test and paired t-test with the Window SAS 9.1 program were used to analyze the data.

Results

A significant increase in the use of tooth paste, tooth-brushing time and the practice of correct tooth-brushing and a decrease in plague and development of dental caries were observed in the experimental group.

Conclusion

This tooth-brushing education was partially effective in improving oral health of preschoolers.

Keywords
Tooth-brushing; Preschool children; Oral health

Tables

Table 1
Homogeneity between the Experimental and Control groups

Table 2
Changes in Tooth-brushing Method and Use of Toothpaste between the Experimental and Control groups

Table 3
Changes in Tooth-brushing Time between the Experimental and Control groups (Unit : sec)

Table 4
Changes in Plaque, Streptococcus Mutans and Lactobacillus between the Experimental and Control groups

Table 5
Changes in Number of Decayed, Missed and Filled Teeth between the Experimental and Control groups

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