Exploring Brazilian Immigrant Mothers’ Beliefs and Practices Regarding Their Preschool Children’s Oral Health: A Qualitative Study Conducted in the United States

Parents' beliefs and practices significantly shape young children's oral health (OH), particularly during preschool years when these habits are being established. Immigrant parents often face challenges in promoting OH due to cultural, financial, and logistical barriers. This qualitative study explored OH beliefs, practices, and barriers among Brazilian immigrant mothers in the United States (U.S.). Semi-structured interviews, guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM), were conducted with mothers of children aged 2-5 years. Thematic analysis, also guided by the HBM, revealed four key themes: (1) beliefs about children's OH; (2) awareness of the parent's role in fostering early OH behaviors; (3) identification of risk and protective factors affecting children's OH; and (4) perceived barriers to maintaining children's optimal OH. Mothers emphasized the importance of proper oral hygiene, regular dental check-ups, and balanced diets for promoting children's OH. Despite recognizing their role in supporting oral hygiene routines and care, mothers noted barriers such as limited access to care, linguistic barriers, and difficulty adopting and maintaining healthy OH practices due to work and family demands. Notably, 96.6% (<i>n</i> = 28) of the mothers scored low on the SASH scale (SASH < 2.99), reflecting low acculturation levels, which may further contribute to these challenges. Study findings highlight the critical role of parental beliefs and practices in shaping early OH behaviors and the unique challenges faced by Brazilian immigrant mothers. Culturally relevant public health interventions, including tailored education and improved access to affordable dental care, are essential for enhancing OH outcomes in young children from these families.