Family-centred oral health promotion through Victorian child-health services: a pilot

Maternal and Child Health Services (MCHS) provide ideal settings for oral disease prevention. In Victoria (Australia), child mouth-checks (Lift-the-Lip) and oral health promotion (OHP) occur during MCHS child visits. This study trialled Tooth-Packs (OHP resources, toothbrushes, toothpastes) distribution within MCHS to (i) assess the impacts of Tooth-Packs distribution on child and family oral health (OH) behaviours and knowledge, including Maternal and Child Health Nurses (MCHN) child referral practices to dental services, and (ii) determine the feasibility and acceptability of incorporating Tooth-Packs distribution into MCHN OHP practices. A mixed-methods evaluation design was employed. MCHN from four high-needs Victorian Local Government Areas distributed Tooth-Packs to families of children attending 18-month and/or 24-month MCHS visits (baseline). Families completed a questionnaire on OH and dietary practices at baseline and 30-month follow-up. Tooth-Packs distribution, Lift-the-lip mouth-checks and child OH referrals were conducted. Guided discussions with MCHN examined intervention feasibility. Overall, 1585 families received Tooth-Packs. Lift-the-lip was conducted on 1493 children (94.1%). Early childhood caries were identified in 142 children (9.5%) and these children were referred to dental services. Baseline to follow-up behavioural improvements (n = 230) included: increased odds of children having ever seen an OH professional (OR 28.0; 95% CI 7.40–236.88; p < 0.001), parent assisted toothbrushing twice/day (OR 1.76; 95% CI 1.05–3.00; p = 0.030) and toothpaste use >once/day (OR 2.82; 95% CI 1.59–5.24; p < 0.001). MCHN recommendations included distribution of Tooth-Packs to at-risk children <12-months of age. MCHS provide an ideal setting to enable timely family-centred OHP intervention and adoption of good OH behaviours at an early age.