# Correlation of Parental and Child Dental Plaque Levels: A Clinical Study
## 4 Discussion
According to findings by [PERSON] et al., 2015, despite a generally good level of awareness, significant gaps in specific knowledge and oral hygiene practices persist among parents, potentially contributing to plaque presence in both parents and children. Ineffective oral hygiene behaviors, such as improper toothbrush use or irregular dental visits, underscore the need for targeted educational interventions to improve daily practices and reduce the transmission of inadequate habits to children [17]. Research by [PERSON] et al., 2017 indicated that many interviewed parents received oral hygiene education from their dentist or hygienist, reflecting a good level of general awareness [18]. However, this awareness does not always translate into effective and consistent practices. Many parents continue to report difficulties in maintaining proper oral hygiene. It was found that only a portion of parents correctly utilized tools such as plaque disclosing agents or practiced thorough tooth cleaning--factors that could contribute to the perpetuation of suboptimal habits in their children [19; 20]. Our results indicate a statistically significant association between the plaque index of parents and that of their children, emphasizing the impact of parental oral hygiene on children's oral health outcomes. This finding aligns with previous research demonstrating that parents, especially fathers, play a crucial role in shaping children's hygiene practices and health outcomes. For instance, [PERSON] et al. (2020) [16] found that children's plaque indices were significantly correlated with paternal oral hygiene habits, suggesting a gender-specific influence that complements our observation of slightly higher plaque levels in children associated with fathers. Furthermore, fathers' oral health behaviors were particularly influential, often serving as a model for children's daily routines. This corresponds with our finding that the positive effect of the parental plaque index on the children's plaque index was marginally stronger for fathers than for mothers. Moreover, other studies (e.g., [PERSON] et al., 2015, [17]; [PERSON] et al., 2017 [18]) have highlighted how educational levels and awareness among parents contribute to improved oral health in children. Our study supports these insights by demonstrating that parents' plaque index significantly influences children's plaque levels, indicating that educational interventions aimed at parents, particularly fathers, may be effective in reducing plaque accumulation in children. Finally, our findings add to the literature by providing quantitative data supporting the influence of paternal oral hygiene behaviors on children's plaque scores, suggesting that paternal health practices merit further focus in future family-based oral health interventions. In a separate study conducted in the refugee camps of Erbil [19], most parents displayed basic knowledge of oral hygiene but exhibited notable gaps, including limited understanding of the significance of fluoride use and lack of awareness regarding when to initiate oral care for children. Such knowledge deficits may explain the similarities in plaque levels between children and their parents, as effective oral hygiene practices are neither adopted nor properly communicated. Furthermore, the parents interviewed tended to hold a generally negative attitude toward preventing early caries. These limitations in knowledge and unfavorable attitudes may perpetuate non-ideal practices, such as inadequate or delayed oral care and the absence of early dental visits. This study emphasizes the need for targeted educational programs to enhance parents' awareness of oral hygiene and caries prevention, ultimately improving home hygiene practices and decreasing the transmission of poor habits [21]. The limitations of our study depend on the sample size of 98 pairs which, though sufficient for initial findings, limits the generalizability of the results. Future studies with larger and more diverse samples are needed to validate our conclusions.