Knowledge of Oral Health in School Children aged 7-8 years

Abstract: Nationally an increased inequality in oral health is seen. Children coming from a lower socioeconomicbackground, as well as children with immigrant background show a higherprevalence of caries. The reason for this can be cultural differences but also parentalunawareness.In this study, the differences in knowledge and oral health habits of children aged 7-8 areinvestigated. The hypothesis is that an increased education and training of oral health inprimary school can help to provide a more equitable oral health in children, regardless oftheir background.Three schools where chosen for this study based on their representation of different socioeconomicareas. A total of 176 pupils participated in the study, where they were asked to fillout a questionnaire about their habits and knowledge of oral health. The same questionnairewas filled out at a later time after they had an educational session and illustrative teachingmaterial was handed out to all of the pupils. The results from the first and second sessionwere compared and analysed.This study shows that there are big differences in children’s oral habits and knowledge inbetween different schools depending on their socioeconomic level. Differences could also beseen depending on the children’s cultural background, as children with foreign-born parentshad a lower knowledge and in some aspects more lacking oral habits. It could also beconcluded that education in school had a positive impact on the children’s knowledge in oral health regardless of their background.