Search

In Australia, dental caries are observed in almost half of children starting school. Oral health promotion programs are being implemented in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings to promote oral health. This study examined children's perceptions of one such program, the Bright Smiles Bright Futures (BSBF) program in ECEC settings in New South Wales, Australia. Data were collected using focus group discussions from 15 children aged 3–5 years, transcribed verbatim, and analysed through inductive thematic analysis. Three themes were identified as follows: (i) oral health knowledge of children, (ii) oral hygiene practices routine and skills development, and (iii) evaluation of the oral health promotion kit and opportunities for improvement. Children's perspectives highlight the BSBF program's success in communicating key messages to promote oral health. The integration of family-centric approaches, acknowledgement of children's preferences, and the use of interactive tools collectively enhance the overall effectiveness of the oral health promotion program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with oral health problems often attend GPs instead of dentists, particularly in rural areas. There has been little research exploring challenges in providing oral health care in urban general practice. A cross-sectional survey of GPs in Greater Western Sydney explored their experiences, knowledge, confidence, and their oral health educational needs. Descriptive statistics and content analysis was undertaken. Forty-nine GPs reported experience of a wide range of oral health presentations. Approximately 60% were confident to undertake oral health examinations and determine the cause of acute toothache. Although 87% were confident providing preventative oral health advice, most did not include this in routine health assessments. Only 41% were confident explaining eligibility for public dental services. Barriers to providing oral health care were time constraints, lack of equipment and limited oral health training. Our research highlights oral health support and training needs in urban Australian general practice, as well as the need for systems-wide change to oral health training in outer urban settings to tackle health inequity, similar to those advocated in rural Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Regular dental attendance is significant in maintaining and improving children's oral health and well-being. This study aims to determine the factors that predict and influence dental visits in primary school children residing in the rural community of Lithgow, New South Wales (NSW), Australia.Methods: All six primary schools of Lithgow were approached to participate in a cross-sectional survey prior to implementing water fluoridation in 2014. Children aged 6-13 years (n = 667) were clinically examined for their oral health status and parents were requested to complete a questionnaire on fluoride history, diet, last dental visit, and socio-demographic characteristics. Multiple logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the independent predictors of a 6-monthly and a yearly dental visit.Results: Overall, 53% of children visited a dentist within six months and 77% within twelve months. In multiple logistic regression analyses, age of the child and private health insurance coverage were significantly associated with both 6-monthly and twelve-month dental visits. In addition, each serve of chocolate consumption was significantly associated with a 27% higher odds (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.05-1.54) of a 6-monthly dental visit.Conclusion: It is imperative that the socio-demographic and dietary factors that influence child oral health must be effectively addressed when developing the oral health promotion policies to ensure better oral health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The aim of this study was to record the views of Chinese mothers living in southwestern Sydney on the value of commonly used dental health education materials that gave behavioural advice on looking after the oral health of young children. Methods This qualitative study was nested within a large cohort study in south-western Sydney. Chinese-speaking mothers ( n = 27) with young children were approached for a face-to-face, semi-structured interview at their home. Two dental leaflets in English that gave behavioural advice on monitoring young children's oral health were sent to each mother prior to interview. On the day of the interview, mothers were also given translated versions of the leaflets for comparison. Interviews were recorded and subsequently transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed by thematic coding. Results Mothers reported that the leaflets were not tailored to match the different levels of English literacy within the Chinese community, and participants favoured health information material written in their first language with the use of illustrations. However, translations had to take account of the Chinese culture, as some of the advice in the leaflets presented did not reflect Chinese family values. Mothers also felt that the information should be more specific to provide a better understanding of the rationale for changing or implementing a different behaviour. Conclusions Dental health information literature for Chinese people should not be translated directly from those intended for an English-speaking audience, but should reflect Chinese culture-specific advice such as examples of the type and amount of foods to be given during early years of life. Supportive illustrations were also preferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issue addressed: Health literacy is an important determinant of oral health. We explored the Child and Family Health Nurses' reflections on the usefulness of leaflets giving dental advice for parents of preschool children in New South Wales, Australia. Methods: Child and Family Health Nurses (n=19) who recruited new mothers to an ongoing birth cohort study in South Western Sydney, Australia, were invited to take part in a qualitative study. A semi-structured, in-depth interview technique was used to explore their views on two leaflets designed by New South Wales Health, which gave dental advice to parents of preschool children. Interviews were audio- recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using interview debriefing and a thematic coding. Results: The nurses reported that the leaflets did not have clear consistent messages and had medical/dental jargon which could be confusing for parents from disadvantaged backgrounds. The advice on using a "pea-sized amount of toothpaste" was considered to be culturally irrelevant. Some early childhood oral health issues were inadequately addressed and the use of pictures was strongly recommended. Conclusions: Producers of paediatric oral health education materials in New South Wales, should reach a consensus on the key health promotion messages. Health authorities should consider re-designing dental lealfets and tailor them to the needs of the parents from disadvantaged backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dental caries (decay) is an international public health challenge, especially amongst young children. Early Childhood Caries is a rapidly progressing disease leading to severe pain, anxiety, sepsis and sleep loss, and is a major health problem particularly for disadvantaged populations. There is currently a lack of research exploring the interactions between risk and protective factors in the development of early childhood caries, in particular the effects of infant feeding practises. Methods/Design: This is an observational cohort study and involves the recruitment of a birth cohort from disadvantaged communities in South Western Sydney. Mothers will be invited to join the study soon after the birth of their child at the time of the first home visit by Child and Family Health Nurses. Data on feeding practices and dental health behaviours will be gathered utilizing a telephone interview at 4, 8 and 12 months, and thereafter at 6 monthly intervals until the child is aged 5 years. Information collected will include a) initiation and duration of breastfeeding, b) introduction of solid food, c) intake of cariogenic and non-cariogenic foods, d) fluoride exposure, and e) oral hygiene practices. Children will have a dental and anthropometric examination at 2 and 5 years of age and the main outcome measures will be oral health quality of life, caries prevalence and caries incidence. Discussion: This study will provide evidence of the association of early childhood feeding practices and the oral health of preschool children. In addition, information will be collected on breastfeeding practices and the oral health concerns of mothers living in disadvantaged areas in South Western Sydney. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to determine the social determinants and behavioural factors influencing frequency of toothbrushing among primary school children residing in the rural community of Lithgow in New South Wales, Australia. All six primary schools of Lithgow were approached to participate in a cross-sectional survey prior to implementation of water fluoridation. A validated oral health survey questionnaire was completed by 703 parents of the children. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to determine significant predictors associated with frequency of toothbrushing. Results: Parents with a positive attitude towards water fluoridation had 74% higher odds (OR = 1.74, 95% CI 1.17–2.60) of their children brushing twice or more daily. Children living in a single parent household had 34% reduced odds (OR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.43–0.99) of brushing twice daily. Poor maternal oral health was significantly associated with suboptimal dental hygiene practices in children, where mothers who had any tooth extracted had 7% reduced odds of their children brushing their teeth twice or more daily (OR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.90–0.97). Subsequently, children with increased consumption of chocolates per day were less likely to brush twice or more daily. Finally, children with dental insurance had two times higher odds (OR = 2.04, 95% CI 1.40–2.96) of brushing twice daily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dental decay in early childhood can be prevented by a model based on shared care utilising members of primary care team such as Child and Family Health Nurses (CFHNs) in health promotion and early intervention. The aims of this study were to identify the facilitators and barriers faced by CFHNs in recruiting research participants from disadvantaged backgrounds to a birth cohort study in South Western Sydney, Australia. Methods: Child and Family Health Nurses recruited mothers-infants dyads (n = 1036) at the first post-natal home visit as part of Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids Study, an ongoing birth cohort study in South Western Sydney. The nurses (n = 19) were purposively selected and approached for a phone based in-depth semi-structured interview to identify the challenges faced by them during the recruitment process. Interviews were audio-recorded, subsequently transcribed verbatim and analysed by thematic analysis. Results: The nurses found the early phase of parenting was an overwhelming stage for parents as they are pre-occupied with more immediate issues such as settling and feeding a newborn. They highlighted some key time-points such as during pregnancy and/or around the time of infant teething may be more appropriate for recruiting families to dental research projects. However, they found it easier to secure the family’s attention by offering incentives, gifts and invitations for free oral health services. The use of web-based approaches and maintaining regular contact with the participants was deemed crucial for long-term research. Cultural and linguistic barriers were seen as an obstacle in recruiting ethnic minority populations and the need for cultural insiders in the research team was deemed important to resolve the challenges associated with conducting research with diverse cultures. Finally, nurses identified the importance of inter-professional collaboration to provide easier access to recruiting research participants. Conclusions: This study highlighted the need for multiple time-points and incentives to facilitate recruitment and retention of disadvantaged communities in longitudinal research. The need for cultural insiders and inter-professional collaboration in research team are important to improve research participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2012; 22: 302-309 Background. Early Childhood Caries is a significant public health issue worldwide. Although much is known about the aetiology of dental caries, there is limited evidence on the understanding of caregivers on readily available early childhood oral health education materials. Aim. The purpose of this study was to record how parents cope with dental health education materials for preschool children commonly available in New South Wales, Australia. Design. This qualitative study was nested within a large cohort study in South Western Sydney. English-speaking mothers ( n = 24) with young children were approached for a face-to-face, semi-structured interview at their homes. Two dental leaflets designed by NSW Health to give advice on monitoring young children's oral health were sent to mothers prior to the interview. Interviews were recorded and subsequently transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed by interview debriefing and a thematic coding. Results. Mothers generally reported that the leaflets were easy to read but noted that the information pertaining to bottle feeding was confusing. Furthermore, they were unable to understand terms such as 'fluoride' and 'fissure sealants'. Early childhood nutrition and infant teething were inadequately addressed, and mothers preferred pictorial presentations to improve their understanding of oral health. Conclusions. Producers of health education leaflets should keep the messages simple and straightforward, avoid the use of medical jargon, and use pictorial aids to improve communication with parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Early Childhood Caries is a global health problem. The Bright Smiles Bright Futures (BSBF) program seeks to equip educators, children, and parents with skills and knowledge about oral health promotion habits early in life. The aim of this study was to examine parental perceptions of the BSBF program and identify key facilitators and barriers for its implementation., Methods: Twelve mothers of children who participated in the BSBF program in five Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings in NSW, Australia were recruited in this qualitative study. Data were collected via focus groups and interviews, transcribed verbatim and coded to categorize for inductive thematic analysis., Results: Five major themes emerged: Promoters of the BSBF oral health program, barriers to the BSBF oral health program implementation and participation, online resources, impact of the BSBF oral health program, and strategies for enhancing the BSBF oral health program. While participants reported that the program encouraged their children's toothbrushing, they found issues with the program's materials, ECEC center attendance, and communication about the oral health program with their children. The program improved message retention, attitudes, routines, and family perceptions toward oral health. Participants recommended oral health literacy, changed delivery formats, increased dental access, and inclusion of interactive elements to enhance the program., Conclusions: The findings from this study provide insight to improve parents' experiences and engagement in oral health promotion. This can help to raise awareness of the importance of child oral health among policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the public to inform public health policy discussions., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Public Health Dentistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Association of Public Health Dentistry.)

Objectives: This study aimed to analyse the usability, content, readability and cultural appropriateness of alcohol and other drugs (AODs) resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in New South Wales (NSW), Australia., Outcome Measures: The content of 30 AOD resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples was analysed according to the following criteria: general characteristics; elements of graphical design and written communication; thoroughness and content; readability (Flesch-Kincaid grade level (FKGL), Gunning Fog index (Fog), Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook and Flesch Reading Ease); and cultural appropriateness., Results: Most resources displayed good usability, depicted by the use of headings and subheadings (n=27), superior writing style (n=19), relevant visuals (n=19) and use of colour support (n=30). However, some resources used at least one professional jargon (n=13), and many did not provide any peer-reviewed references (n=22). During content analysis, 12 resources were categorised into the alcohol group and 18 resources in the other drugs group. Impact of alcohol during pregnancy and breast feeding (n=12) was the most common included topics in the resources related to alcohol, while the physical impact of drugs (n=15) was the most discussed topics among the other drugs group. Based on the FKGL readability score, 83% of resources met the recommended reading grade level of 6-8 by NSW Health. Many resources (n=21) met at least half of the cultural appropriateness elements of interest. However, less than one-third were developed in collaboration with the local community (n=9), used local terms (n=5), targeted the local community (n=3), included an Aboriginal voice (n=2) and addressed the underlying cause (n=1)., Conclusions: Many AOD resources are developed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, but their usability, content and readability differed, and they were not culturally appropriate for all communities. Development of a standardised protocol for resource development is suggested., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

The aim of this study was to report on breastfeeding duration up to 24 months and determine the predictors of breastfeeding duration among women in South Western Sydney, one of the most culturally diverse and socioeconomically disadvantaged regions of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Mother-infant dyads ( n = 1035) were recruited to the Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids birth cohort study. Study data were collected through telephone interviews at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 months postpartum. Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine factors associated with the risk of stopping full breastfeeding at six months and any breastfeeding at 12 and 24 months. The majority of mothers (92.3%) had initiated breastfeeding. At six months, 13.5% of infants were fully breastfed, while 49.9% received some breast milk. Only 25.5% and 2.9% of infants received some breast milk at 12 and 24 months, respectively. Lower maternal education level, lower socioeconomic status, full-time employment, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and caesarean delivery were associated with increased risk of stopping full breastfeeding at six months and any breastfeeding at 12 and 24 months. Older maternal age and partner's preference for breastfeeding were associated with an increased likelihood of continuing any breastfeeding at 12 and 24 months. These findings present a number of opportunities for prolonging breastfeeding duration in disadvantaged communities in NSW.

Background: Poorly controlled diabetes leads to multiple complications including oral health problems. General practitioners (GPs) are at the forefront of management of chronic diseases in primary health care. Diabetes guidelines encourage a proactive role for GPs in oral health complications management in people with diabetes, yet little is known about this area of care. This study aimed to explore current practices, perceptions and barriers of GPs towards oral health care for people with diabetes., Methods: We employed a qualitative research method utilising telephone interviews. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit 12 GPs from Greater Sydney region. A thematic analysis involving an inductive approach was used to identify and analyse contextual patterns and themes., Results: A majority of participants were males (n = 10), working in group practices (n = 11) with a mean ± SD age of 55 ± 11.4 years and 25 ± 13.6 years work experience. Three major themes emerged: oral health care practices in general practice settings; barriers and enablers to oral health care; and role of diabetes care providers in promoting oral health. Most GPs acknowledged the importance of oral health care for people with diabetes, identifying their compromised immune capacity and greater risks of infections as risk factors. GPs reported 20-30% of their patients having oral health problems, however their current oral health care practices relating to education, risk assessment and referrals were reported as very limited. GPs identified several barriers including time constraints, absence of referral pathways, and limited knowledge and training in promoting oral health care. They also reported patient barriers including oral health care costs and lower oral health awareness. GPs perceived that resources such as education/training, a standardised assessment tool and patient education materials could support them in promoting oral health care. GPs also perceived that other diabetes care providers such as diabetes educators could play an important role in promoting oral health., Conclusions: Despite current recommendations, GPs' current oral health care practices among people with diabetes are limited. Further strategies including capacity building GPs by developing appropriate oral health training programs and simple risk assessment tools along with accessible referral pathways are needed to address the current barriers.

Early introduction of complementary foods can have a detrimental impact on children's long-term health. This study examined the timing and determinants of early introduction of core and discretionary foods among infants in Sydney, Australia. Mothers ( n = 1035) from an ongoing population-based birth cohort study were interviewed at 8, 17, 34 and 52 weeks postpartum. The outcome was 'age at which particular core and discretionary food items were first introduced'. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate family and infant-related determinants of early introduction of core (<17 weeks of age) and discretionary foods (<52 weeks of age). Of the 934 mother-infant dyads interviewed, 12% ( n = 113) of infants were introduced core foods before 17 weeks of age (median: 22). Mothers working part-time (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 3.42, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.54-7.62) and those exclusively formula-feeding their babies at four-weeks postpartum (adjusted OR 3.26, 95% CI: 1.99-5.33) were most likely to introduce core foods early. Ninety-five percent ( n = 858) of infants were introduced discretionary foods before 52 weeks of age (median: 28). Low socio-economic status was significantly associated with early introduction of discretionary foods (adjusted OR: 3.72, 95% CI: 1.17-11.78). Compliance with infant feeding guidelines related to core foods was better; however, discretionary foods were introduced early in most infants.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate possible risk factors for dental caries in primary school children., Methods: Children aged 10-12 years (n = 257) residing in Lithgow, a non-fluoridated community in New South Wales, Australia, were examined for caries experience in the permanent dentition. Information on dental practices, diet, residential movements, and socioeconomic status were obtained from self-completed questionnaires., Results: Caries risk in the permanent teeth was associated with social disadvantage and diet. Among the dietary factors, the frequency of fruit consumption was associated with higher odds of caries experience (odds ratio: 1.52, 95% confidence intervals: 1.05, 2.21)., Conclusions: Exposure to a high level of fruit consumption was suggestive of increased caries risk. Longitudinal studies are required to investigate the relationship between fruit consumption and dental caries., (© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.)

Aim: The aim of the Child Dental Health Survey in Lithgow was to establish the oral health status of primary schoolchildren to assist the local council in deciding whether to fluoridate the water and to provide a baseline for future monitoring of changes in caries rates., Methods: All six primary schools in Lithgow were invited to participate, and 653 children aged 6-12 years were clinically examined for dental caries. World Health Organization criteria were used, whereby a decayed tooth is defined as a cavity into the dentine. Caries prevalence was measured as the mean number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (primary: dmft; secondary: DMFT). Significant caries indices were calculated to categorise children with the mean dmft/DMFT score of the highest 30 percentage (SiC) and the highest 10 percentage (SiC(10)) of caries. Data for Lithgow were compared with school dental service data for the socioeconomically comparable fluoridated townships of Bathurst and Orange., Results: The primary dentition caries estimates (dmft, SiC and SiC(10)) in Lithgow children aged 6 years were 0.92, 2.72 and 5.81, respectively; the estimates for permanent dentition caries (DMFT, SiC and SiC(10)) in Lithgow children aged 12 years were 0.69, 2.05 and 6.41, respectively. The caries prevalence in the permanent dentition of Lithgow children was significantly higher than that in children living in the fluoridated towns of Bathurst and Orange. No significant differences were observed in the estimates for primary teeth., Conclusion: Although the mean levels of dental caries in schoolchildren in Lithgow were low, oral health inequalities exist between children residing in non-fluoridated Lithgow and the fluoridated locations of Orange and Bathurst. The local council decided that Lithgow will have fluoridated water by December 2010.