Community-oriented oral health promotion for infants in Jerusalem: Evaluation of a program trial

Objectives: This study sought to measure the effect of a community health e ducation program on reported infants' bottle-feeding practices and infants' toothbrushing behavior, with or without distribution of toothpaste and too th-brushes. Methods: In this quasi-experimental comparison group design stu dy conducted in mother and child health centers in Jerusalem, parents of 72 7 children were surveyed by telephone at baseline and six months later. The cohort of infants was aged 612 months at baseline. The program group recei ved structured health education. The control group received no organized ed ucational intervention. Within the program and control groups, half of the centers were randomly given toothpaste and toothbrushes. Results: Parents' reports revealed a secular 32.5 percent increase in toothbrushing for infan ts with no intervention, 45.1 percent for infants only receiving toothpaste and toothbrushes, 43.7 percent for infants only receiving the health educa tion program, and a 60.4 percent increase for infants receiving health educ ation together with toothpaste and toothbrushes (chi-square, P=.0002). Modi fication of bottle-drinking practices, in this program, was unsuccessful. C onclusion: The free distribution of toothpaste and toothbrushes, together w ith an oral health education program, is recommended as a potentially pract ical and effective method of promoting early oral hygiene practices.