“Frecuencia de cepillado y uso de pasta dental con flúor en niños de 4 a 6 años de edad en la parroquia Cañaribamba de la ciudad de Cuenca 2023”

Abstract

Introduction: Oral hygiene in children aged 4 to 6 years is crucial for establishing solid dental health. Tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste plays a fundamental role in preventing caries and strengthening dental enamel at this early stage of dental development. Objective: To determine the frequency of brushing and fluoride toothpaste usage in children 4 to 6 years of age in Cañaribamba parish in Cuenca city 2023. Method: A quantitative study with a descriptive and cross -sectional design was conducted. The sample comprised 206 boys and girls from 4 to 6 years of age, residents in the Cañaribamba parish. The survey technique was used for data collection, and results were analyzed through SPSS v.27 statistical software. Results: 82.0% of the representatives are women, 54.4% of the infants are female, most children are six years old, the most frequent family income is $400 monthly, and 67.5% have a high school education level, 58.7% of the children perform brushing twice a day, 91.3% use fluoride toothpaste, the most frequent fluoride concentration is 1000-1100 ppm (44.7%), the prevalence of brushing is similar in families with different income levels, 86.4% brush their teeth daily. Conclusions: The educational representative level influences the periodicity of nighttime brushing in children aged 4 to 6 years.