Parental Oral Health Attitudes and Knowledge and Their High Caries Risk Infants’ Oral Health Conditions

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine, among 1-y-old Hong Kong infants at high caries risk, how parental oral health attitudes and knowledge were associated with sociodemographic factors and their caring behaviors, as well as how these behaviors and sociodemographic factors were associated with infant oral health conditions. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial on infants aged 1 y with high caries risk in Hong Kong was conducted. A self-completed structured questionnaire collected family sociodemographic background, parental oral health attitudes and knowledge, and infants' oral health practices. The infants received an oral examination to assess dental caries and oral hygiene. RESULTS: There were 579 parent-infant dyads. The infants' caries experience was 1.04%. Their oral health-related behaviors were unfavorable. Almost all infants (99.5%) had not been to the dentist. Parents had positive attitudes toward oral health, but their knowledge was inadequate. More positive parental oral health attitudes and greater knowledge were found among mothers, parents with higher education and income, prior oral health education, and those who cleaned or brushed their infants' teeth. Higher household income and toothbrushing with toothpaste were associated with lower plaque level, whereas sleeping with a milk bottle was associated with higher caries. CONCLUSIONS: Parents' understanding of and attitudes toward oral health are related to their sociodemographic background. Parents with more positive attitudes and better knowledge tend to exhibit more favorable behaviors for caring for their infants' teeth. In addition, a family's socioeconomic status and parental care practices are associated with the infant's oral health.Knowledge Transfer Statement:The results of this study can be used by dental clinicians when providing oral health instructions to parents who bring their infants to their first dental visit. Based on the different sociodemographic backgrounds and oral health practices of parent-infant dyads, the instructions could vary.