Knowledge and Awareness Level of Children’s Oral Health Care among Parents in Saudi Arabia
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Abstract
Background: Parental knowledge and awareness are critical for shaping children’s oral hygiene, diet, and dental
visits. In Saudi Arabia, despite recommendations from the American academy of pediatric dentistry for twice-daily
brushing with parental assistance, many parents undervalue early dental care, leading to delayed checkups and
neglected preventive practices. Early childhood caries remains highly prevalent, affecting about 73% of preschool
children, and is linked to poor oral hygiene, unhealthy diets, and limited parental awareness. Objectives: The
objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and awareness level of children’s oral health care among parents
in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Saudi Arabia from July to December
2025 using a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographics and domains of knowledge (10 items), practices
(7 items), awareness/motivation (5 items), and attitude (3 items). Responses were scored (knowledge: 0–10; practice:
0–7; awareness/motivation: 0–5; attitude: 3–15) and categorized into predefined levels; data were analyzed in the
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences v28.
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