Community Dental Health

cover art

Cover Date:
December 2017
Print ISSN:
0265 539X
Electronic ISSN:
2515-1746
Vol:
34
Issue:
4

Supervised toothbrushing programs in primary schools and early childhood settings: A scoping review

Objective: In this article we report the findings of a scoping review that aimed to identify and summarise the range of programs and guidelines available for toothbrushing programs in schools and early childhood settings. Dental caries is one of the most common preventable diseases affecting children worldwide. Untreated caries can impact on child health and wellbeing, development, socialisation and school attendance. Supervised toothbrushing programs in schools and other early childhood settings can be effective in improving the oral health of young children. There is limited understanding of the salient issues to consider when developing such programs or how they are best implemented in real world settings. Methods: A scoping review methodology was utilised to provide a summary of the guidelines and
programs available. Key search terms were developed, mapped and utilised to identify guidelines and programs across 6 databases and key search engines. Results: We located 26 programs and guidelines that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the review. These were collated and summarised across key countries and critical aspects of program development and implementation were identified. Toothbrush type and storage, toothpaste strength and method of dispensing, toothbrush storage, staff training and parental consent are key considerations that varied widely. Conclusions and recommendations: Guidelines for supervised toothbrushing programs vary within and across countries due to differences in water fluoridation and availability of low fluoride toothpastes. The results of this review provide
critical information to be considered when establishing and implementing toothbrushing programs in these settings.

Keywords: Toothbrushing program, toothbrushing guidelines, toothbrushing standards, toothbrushing protocol, scoping review

doi:10.1922/CDH_4057Dickson-Swift18

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
208
Page End
225
Authors
Virginia Dickson-Swift, Amanda Kenny, Mark Gussy, Andrea M de Silva, Jane Farmer, Stacey Bracksley-O’Grady

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial- Will my work be published?
  2. 192
  3. 192

  1. Oral health survey of five-year-olds 2014/15: Have strategies for increasing the levels of parental consent in Bradford been effective?
  2. 193
  3. 195

  1. Factors supporting dentist leaders´ retention in leadership
  2. 196
  3. 202

  1. Dental status in nursing home residents with domiciliary dental care in Sweden
  2. 203
  3. 207

  1. Supervised toothbrushing programs in primary schools and early childhood settings: A scoping review
  2. 208
  3. 225

  1. Investigating socioeconomic position in dental caries and traumatic dental injury among children in Quebec
  2. 226
  3. 233

  1. The interaction effects between race and functional disabilities on the prevalence of self-reported periodontal diseases - National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2012
  2. 234
  3. 240

  1. Finnish dentists find smoking cessation important but seldom offer practical support for their patients
  2. 241
  3. 247

  1. Examiner calibration in caries detection for populations and settings where in vivo calibration is not practical
  2. 248
  3. 253

  1. Correspondence to Editor
  2. 254
  3. 254