SKILLS OF INDIVIDUAL ORAL HYGIENE IN CHILDREN WITH ORTHODONTIC PATHOLOGY
Authors: Udod O.A. , Dramaretska S.I. 
Published: September 2022

Relevance. Orthodontic pathology contributes to the deterioration of the hygienic condition of the oral cavity in children and increases the risk of developing dental caries and inflammatory periodontal diseases. In this regard, rational and effective oral hygiene becomes especially relevant. Aim of this study is to analyze the results of a questionnaire of children with orthodontic pathology regarding the skills of individual oral hygiene and oral hygiene products they use. Materials and methods. A dental examination of 138 children aged from 14 to 17 years with orthodontic pathology was carried out. Before starting the treatment, the children filled out a specially developed questionnaire that contained 20 questions with suggested answer options. The children were surveyed in the presence of parents; the children answered the questions independently by filling out a Google form, parents were not allowed to intrude into the survey. Results. 73 children (52.9%) followed the recommendations to brush their teeth twice a day in the morning and in the evening. 47 (34.1%) children reported about brushing their teeth in the morning only and 6 (4,3%) children brushed their teeth in the evening. 35 (25.4%) children admitted that they did not brush their teeth every day. 76 children (55.1%), i.e. more than half, were fount to spend no more than 1 minute for toothbrushing, another 35 surveyed children (25.4%) indicated that their brushing time, as a rule, did not exceed 2 minutes, and only 25 children (18.1%) followed the recommended time of 3-5 minutes. Among all the participants, 53 children (38.4%) regularly brushed their teeth after meals, 28 (20.3%) – before meals. 57 children (41.3%) reported no established order between meals and oral routine in the morning, some of them said that oral hygiene might depend on food, others paid no attention to the sequence between meal and oral hygiene. 66 (47.8%) children are not interested in the immediate result of the performed cleaning, 42 children (30.4%) received some information about the quality of oral cavity care only at a dentist’s appointment, 30 children (21.7%) monitored the state of oral hygiene by using mirror without the additional dye indicators. The vast majority of children, 57.2%, used a manual toothbrush for oral hygiene, 31 children (22.5%) reported about regular use of an electric toothbrush, and 28 children (20.3%) indicated for periodic alternation regarding the use of toothbrushes of one or another type of teeth. 58 children (42.0%) indicated that the main motivational incentives for choosing brushes were their design and colour, while 33 (23.9%) and 24 (17,4%) children chose brushes based on the advice of their dentists or parents, respectively. 15 children (10.9%) chose toothbrushes without attaching any importance to this. Every 2-3 months, 67 children (48.6%) replaced a worn-out toothbrush with a new one, every 4-6 months – 27 children (19.6%), 40 children (29.0%) were not interested in the replacement period. All the participants used toothpaste, but half of them, namely, 70 children (50.7%), were guided by its organoleptic properties, colour, package design, etc. when choosing paste; 49 children (35.5%) followed the recommendations of dentists, while 11 children (8.0%) did not think about what toothpaste to choose. Toothpastes with complex action or anti-caries activity were used by 44 (31.9%) and 40 (29.0%) children, respectively, but 22 children (15.9%) did not pay any attention to toothpaste composition, indications and contraindication. Some children are informed about interdental hygiene products. Thus, 21 children (15.2%) reported about regular use of dental floss for interdental cleaning, 12 children (8.7%) also used it, but only occasionally, 26 children (18.8%) indicated that they used an irrigator, but at the same time 105 children (76.1%) never used dental floss, and 112 (81.2%) used an irrigator. Conclusion. According to the results of the questionnaire, the level of awareness of children with orthodontic pathology about rational and effective individual oral hygiene routine and products is far from being completely satisfactory. The development of additional oral hygiene recommendations for children with such problems seems appropriate and necessary.