Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of International Dental and Medical Research, cilt.16, sa.3, ss.1181-1188, 2023 (Scopus)
To analyze the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on oral hygiene practices and eating habits in Turkish children and the relationship between parental employment status and education levels. A cross-sectional survey was carried out from March 2021 to May 2021 and conducted on 402 children (aged 5-14 years).Parents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire on current demographics and dietary and oral hygiene habits in children before and during the lockdown. The caries experience was measured using the DMFT index. Relationships between dependent categorical variables were tested using the Chi-square test, the Mc-Nemar test, and the Wilcoxon rank test. Consumption of processed food increased, and tooth brushing frequency (TBF) decreased in the total population. TBF was associated with the employment status changes of the mother. Children in low-education groups showed more unhealthy food consumption, lower TBF, and less parental supervision than those in high-education groups. COVID-19 lockdown negatively influenced children's eating and tooth-brushing habits. School closure and the change in parental employment patterns could have affected their daily routine.