A Saudi mother brushing her child's teeth, promoting early dental care.

Decoding Your Child's Dental Health: A Saudi Mother's Guide

Avery Sinclair in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 5 min read.

"Empowering Saudi mothers with the knowledge and attitudes needed to safeguard their preschool children's oral health and prevent early childhood caries."

Oral health is a cornerstone of a child's overall well-being, and establishing healthy habits early is crucial. Unfortunately, many children experience dental caries (tooth decay) at a very young age. Early childhood caries (ECC) can lead to pain, infections, difficulty eating and sleeping, and even affect a child's self-esteem. For Saudi mothers, understanding the unique factors that influence their children's oral health is the first step towards prevention.

Several factors contribute to early childhood caries, including prolonged bottle-feeding, frequent consumption of sugary drinks, and a lack of proper oral hygiene. Parents' knowledge and attitudes play a significant role in shaping their children's oral health habits. To address this critical issue, a study was conducted in Makkah Al-Mukarrama, Saudi Arabia, to assess the knowledge and attitudes of Saudi mothers towards their preschool children's oral health.

This article translates the findings of this important research, providing Saudi mothers with practical guidance and evidence-based strategies to protect their children's smiles. By understanding the key factors influencing oral health and adopting proactive measures, mothers can significantly reduce the risk of ECC and set their children on the path to a lifetime of healthy teeth.

Key Findings: What Saudi Mothers Need to Know

A Saudi mother brushing her child's teeth, promoting early dental care.

The study, which involved 101 mothers of children aged 16 to 40 months, revealed both encouraging and concerning trends in oral health knowledge and attitudes. While a significant majority of mothers recognized the importance of baby teeth and the benefits of fluoridated toothpaste, several misconceptions and areas for improvement were identified:

Here's a breakdown of some key findings:

Importance of Baby Teeth: An overwhelming 92.1% of mothers agreed that baby teeth are important for a child's general health. This indicates a strong foundation of understanding regarding the significance of primary teeth.
Fluoride Awareness: A similarly high percentage (90.1%) recognized that using fluoridated toothpaste helps prevent tooth decay, highlighting the effectiveness of public health campaigns promoting fluoride.
Bottle-Feeding Practices: A concerning 43.6% of mothers agreed that a child should be allowed to use a bottle at-will once they can hold it themselves. Furthermore, over half (54.5%) believed that letting a baby sleep with a bottle in their mouth is harmless to their teeth. These practices significantly increase the risk of ECC.
Socioeconomic Disparities: The study revealed disparities in knowledge based on socioeconomic status (SES). A significantly higher percentage of high-SES mothers (85.9%) believed that frequent feeding with milk or formula is harmless compared to middle-SES mothers (55.6%). Conversely, a higher percentage of middle-SES mothers (66.7%) felt that a child should only visit a dentist in case of pain, compared to high-SES mothers (17.4%).

These findings underscore the need for targeted educational interventions to address misconceptions and promote best practices for infant and toddler oral health, especially focusing on bottle-feeding habits and the importance of regular dental check-ups.

Empowering Mothers for Healthier Smiles

The study's conclusions emphasize the critical need for educating Saudi mothers on key aspects of their children's oral health, particularly regarding feeding practices, diet, and the importance of early dental visits. By dispelling misconceptions and promoting evidence-based practices, we can empower mothers to take proactive steps in preventing ECC and fostering lifelong oral health for their children.

Here are some actionable steps Saudi mothers can take:

<ul> <li>Limit Bottle-Feeding: Avoid allowing children to use a bottle at-will, especially for sugary drinks or milk. Wean children from the bottle by 12-14 months of age.</li> <li>Avoid Bedtime Bottles: Never put a baby to bed with a bottle containing milk, formula, or juice.</li> <li>Promote Healthy Diet: Limit frequent consumption of sugary drinks and snacks. Encourage a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.</li> <li>Start Early Oral Hygiene: Clean your baby's gums with a soft cloth even before teeth erupt. Once teeth appear, brush twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste appropriate for their age.</li> <li>Schedule Early Dental Visits: Take your child for their first dental visit by their first birthday. Early check-ups allow dentists to identify potential problems and provide guidance on proper oral hygiene and diet.</li> </ul>

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.12669/pjms.304.5069, Alternate LINK

Title: Knowledge And Attitude Of Saudi Mothers Towards Their Preschool Children’S Oral Health

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences

Publisher: Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences

Authors: Amjad Hussain Wyne

Published: 2014-05-31

Everything You Need To Know

What is early childhood caries (ECC), and why is it important to address?

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a serious issue that can cause pain, infections, and other health problems. It's important to address this issue because it can affect a child's ability to eat and sleep, and it can even impact their self-esteem. The study conducted focused on understanding the factors that influence children's oral health and provide solutions for prevention. This includes understanding factors such as prolonged bottle-feeding, frequent consumption of sugary drinks, and a lack of proper oral hygiene.

What is fluoride awareness, and why is it significant in the context of oral health?

Fluoride awareness is when mothers understand and recognize the benefits of using fluoridated toothpaste. A large majority of mothers recognized the importance of fluoridated toothpaste in preventing tooth decay. This indicates that public health campaigns promoting fluoride have been effective. The correct use of fluoridated toothpaste is a proactive measure that can help reduce the risk of ECC. This is important because fluoride helps to strengthen tooth enamel, making teeth more resistant to decay.

What are bottle-feeding practices, and how do they relate to dental health?

Bottle-feeding practices are when a child is allowed to use a bottle at-will once they can hold it themselves. The study revealed that a concerning number of mothers have practices that can increase the risk of ECC. The study revealed that many mothers believed letting a baby sleep with a bottle in their mouth is harmless to their teeth. These practices significantly increase the risk of early childhood caries. It is important for Saudi mothers to be aware of the potential harm from bottle-feeding habits, such as prolonged bottle-feeding and sleeping with a bottle.

What do socioeconomic disparities mean in relation to the study's findings?

Socioeconomic disparities refer to the differences in knowledge and attitudes based on socioeconomic status. The study revealed that mothers with different socioeconomic backgrounds had varying levels of knowledge and attitudes toward oral health practices. A significantly higher percentage of high-SES mothers believed that frequent feeding with milk or formula is harmless compared to middle-SES mothers. Conversely, a higher percentage of middle-SES mothers felt that a child should only visit a dentist in case of pain, compared to high-SES mothers. These disparities underscore the need for targeted educational interventions to address misconceptions.

How can Saudi mothers be empowered to improve their children's oral health?

The study's conclusions emphasize the need for educating Saudi mothers on key aspects of their children's oral health. The findings revealed areas where education is needed, such as promoting best practices for infant and toddler oral health, focusing on bottle-feeding habits, and the importance of regular dental check-ups. Empowering mothers is crucial for preventing ECC and fostering lifelong oral health for their children. By dispelling misconceptions and promoting evidence-based practices, we can help mothers take proactive steps in protecting their children's smiles and overall well-being.