Knowledge
The overall mean knowledge score was 4.68 ± 1.87 (range 0–9). Mothers had significantly better overall knowledge scores than fathers and other caregivers (p < 0.001). In addition, participants with a university educational level or higher had significantly better overall knowledge scores than less educated participants (p = 0.003).
The percentage of participants who answered correctly for individual knowledge questions is shown in figure 1. When asked about food cariogenicity and the importance of fluorides in caries prevention, 304 (91.3%) of the participants answered correctly. However, only 82 (24.6%) were aware of the right time to start brushing a child’s teeth and the ideal time for the first dental visit. Older participants (>40 years of age) had significantly better knowledge in areas such as the effect of untreated caries on growth (p = 0.020), while younger participants had significantly better knowledge with regard to the ideal timing for the child’s first dental visit (p = 0.011). Additionally, mothers of children aged 0–1 years had significantly better knowledge with regard to the ideal time to start brushing a child’s teeth (p = 0.000)