It is also worthwhile to note that higher reported
rates of brushing may not necessarily reflect more
effective plaque removal or better hygiene habits
than those reporting less frequent brushing, as
there was no way to assess the quality of toothbrushing
in this study. Careful cleaning, and not
just frequent brushing, is thought to be relevant for
oral health (37). Young children who are learning
to brush on their own may or may not be doing a
sufficient job. Some research suggests that children
cannot brush their own teeth adequately until they
are about 5 years old (38) and one study that
closely examined toothbrushing patterns in a