Influence of social norms on toothbrushing behavior of preschool children.

Two hundred and eighty mothers of preschool children were interviewed in order to determine first, their children's toothbrushing habits and secondly, their expectations concerning the brushing behavior of preschool children in general. The influence of social and demographic factors on children's brushing behavior was also investigated. The results showed that the practice of toothbrushing is widespread and mothers play the central role in teaching the brushing routine. However, the social norms concerning oral hygiene were imprecise, indicating that mothers had no social support for teaching their children to brush and no information on how brushing should be carried out. Dental health educators should encourage mothers of young children to develop positive attitudes towards toothbrushing and teach them the correct technique.