Knowledge, Attitude and Awareness Regarding the Use of Fluoride in Caries Prevention Amongst Parents in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Introduction: The available data on parents’ perceptions of fluoride use for their children are lacking. Hence, assessing their awareness, attitude, and adherence to proper oral hygiene practices at home is crucial. Materials and Methods: 250 parents of children aged 1–17 years residing in Jeddah, were included in this study through convenient sampling. These parents actively volunteered to participate. A self-designed and validated close-ended multiple-choice questionnaire, consisting of 20 items in English, was distributed to the parents via E-mail and social media channels in both English and Arabic. The questionnaire comprised six questions related to demographic information, five questions evaluating knowledge, five questions on practices, and four questions assessing attitudes. Each response was assigned a score ranging from 0 to 2, based on the correctness of the answer, although this scoring system was not disclosed to the participants. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the factors influencing parents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning fluoride use in caries prevention. For statistical comparisons, a significance level of 0.05 was taken into account. Results: The median scores for knowledge, practice, and attitude (KAP) regarding fluoride use were 50%, 57% and 42.8%, respectively. The overall KAP score was 50%. Most parents believed that toothpaste (42.56%) and packaged drinking water (28.30%) were the primary dietary sources of fluoride for their children. In addition, 66.16% of parents thought that fluoride helps prevent dental caries, and 60.53% reported using fluoride products at home. Fluoridated toothpaste was the most commonly used product, with 46.24% of parents using it to brush their children’s teeth. The gender of the parents, specifically mothers ( P = 0.017), and their previous dental education ( P < 0.001) were significant predictors of good knowledge regarding fluoride use. Previous dental education ( P < 0.001) was also the only significant predictor of a positive attitude towards fluoride use. Furthermore, parents’ age ( P < 0.006) and their previous dental education ( P < 0.001) were significant predictors of good practices concerning fluoride use. Conclusion: The parents’ past education in dental health emerged as the most significant factor influencing their understanding, attitudes, and practices concerning fluoride use. This highlights the vital role of informed parenting in promoting effective dental care.