Oral hygiene practices and dietary habits among children with Down’s Syndrome in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The objective of this study was to evaluate the oral hygiene practices and dietary habits among a sample of children with Down’s syndrome in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and to determine whether the mother’s educational level and occupational status are related to these practices and habits. Two hundred and fifty families of children with Down’s syndrome were selected for this study. These children attended three institutions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The data for the study was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire distributed by the institutions principal. Two hundred and twentyfive questionnaires were returned giving a response rate of 90%. The results showed that nearly 75% of the children brushed their teeth once or more daily and that about 90% used the toothbrush. Of the surveyed sample, 60% received parental help with tooth brushing, and 12% were helped by the nanny. Children of mothers with university education were found to brush their own teeth or depend on the nanny’s help (P=0.008, P=0.001 respectively). Also children of working mothers were found to brush their own teeth or rely on the nanny’s help (P=0.034, P 0.0001 respectively). Only 7.3% of the mothers gave their children sweets or sweet snacks three times a day or more and 7% gave them sweet drinks as frequent. Over half of the mothers gave their children sweets and sweet snacks occasionally, and 42.8% gave them sweet drinks occasionally. No statistically significant differences, in these practices, were found in relation to the mother’s educational levels or occupational status. The practice of giving sweets as a reward was low among the surveyed sample and the highest percentage (55.7%) of the respondents gave their children in-between meal snacks once/day. Statistically significant differences were found only in the frequency of consumption of sweets and sweet snacks between the children of working and non-working mothers as non-working mothers gave their children sweets and sweet snacks more frequently (P= 0.027).This study demonstrated that the overall level of oral hygiene practices and dietary habits among Down’s syndrome children was satisfactory and that assisting the children with tooth brushing would improve their oral hygiene. With regards to the relationship between the Child’s oral hygiene practices and dietary habits with the mother’s educational level and occupational status, statistically significant associations were found only with the person responsible for brushing the teeth and the frequency of consumption of sweet snacks.