Page 17 - Petelin Ana. Ur. 2022. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of children and adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 17
https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-293-167-4.17-27
Oral hygiene and the use of fluoride
toothpastes in children and adolescents
in Slovenia in 2019
Barbara Artnik1, Martin Ranfl2
1University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Chair of Public Health, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2National Institute of Public Health, Regional Unit Murska Sobota, Murska Sobota, Slovenia
barbara.artnik@mf.uni-lj.si; martin.ranfl@nijz.si
Abstract
Introduction: We present the results of the »National Survey on Oral
Health of Children and Adolescents in Slovenia in 2019«, which
established for the first time at the national level, the level of oral health
care among children and adolescents. The aim of our study was to
assess the state of oral health of children and adolescents and provide
recommendations for its promotion. We report in more detail the
results and findings related to oral hygiene and fluoride use. Methods:
The target population were children and adolescents aged 0–17 years.
The sample, representative for gender and age, included 3,200 children
and adolescents (1% of this population in Slovenia). The survey was
conducted using the EGOHID questionnaire. Data were weighted by
gender and age. The distributions of proportions between different
groups (by gender or age) and comparisons were analysed with the chi-
square test and the CCP test to compare proportions between different
groups. Results: Only 62% of children aged 0–5 regularly brushed their
teeth (or were assisted by parents). The proportion of children who
brushed their teeth regularly increased slightly after the age of 5, with
80% of children brushing their teeth regularly. On average, 20% of
children/adolescents did not brush their teeth regularly between the
ages of 6–10 and 11–17. Among adolescents aged 15–17, 91% of girls and
only 66% of boys regularly brushed their teeth (hi-square test = 17.4, p
<0.001; p <0.001). After the age of 4, the proportion of children whose
parents helped clean their teeth decreased sharply, with 81% of 5-year-
olds, 71% of 6-year-olds and 62% of 7-year-olds being helped. Only 30%
of children before the age of 1 used fluoride-containing toothpaste.
66% of children/adolescents, aged 3–13, were expected to use fluoride-
containing toothpaste. After the age of 14, the proportion of adolescents
who did not know if their toothpaste contained fluoride increased, and
as many as 33% of adolescents stated that they did not use toothpaste that
Oral hygiene and the use of fluoride
toothpastes in children and adolescents
in Slovenia in 2019
Barbara Artnik1, Martin Ranfl2
1University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Chair of Public Health, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2National Institute of Public Health, Regional Unit Murska Sobota, Murska Sobota, Slovenia
barbara.artnik@mf.uni-lj.si; martin.ranfl@nijz.si
Abstract
Introduction: We present the results of the »National Survey on Oral
Health of Children and Adolescents in Slovenia in 2019«, which
established for the first time at the national level, the level of oral health
care among children and adolescents. The aim of our study was to
assess the state of oral health of children and adolescents and provide
recommendations for its promotion. We report in more detail the
results and findings related to oral hygiene and fluoride use. Methods:
The target population were children and adolescents aged 0–17 years.
The sample, representative for gender and age, included 3,200 children
and adolescents (1% of this population in Slovenia). The survey was
conducted using the EGOHID questionnaire. Data were weighted by
gender and age. The distributions of proportions between different
groups (by gender or age) and comparisons were analysed with the chi-
square test and the CCP test to compare proportions between different
groups. Results: Only 62% of children aged 0–5 regularly brushed their
teeth (or were assisted by parents). The proportion of children who
brushed their teeth regularly increased slightly after the age of 5, with
80% of children brushing their teeth regularly. On average, 20% of
children/adolescents did not brush their teeth regularly between the
ages of 6–10 and 11–17. Among adolescents aged 15–17, 91% of girls and
only 66% of boys regularly brushed their teeth (hi-square test = 17.4, p
<0.001; p <0.001). After the age of 4, the proportion of children whose
parents helped clean their teeth decreased sharply, with 81% of 5-year-
olds, 71% of 6-year-olds and 62% of 7-year-olds being helped. Only 30%
of children before the age of 1 used fluoride-containing toothpaste.
66% of children/adolescents, aged 3–13, were expected to use fluoride-
containing toothpaste. After the age of 14, the proportion of adolescents
who did not know if their toothpaste contained fluoride increased, and
as many as 33% of adolescents stated that they did not use toothpaste that
