Abstract
Objectives : This study was to collect data about oral health to develop preschool children' oral health program. Methods : This research was from July 20th to August 20th, 2008 with self-administrated questionnaires by post and e-mail. The response rate was 57.6%(144 of 250). Results : 1. Daycare center provided fruit(64.6%), bread(56.9%), milk(82.6%), yoghurt(47.9%). daycare center tend to provide cariogenic snacks and drinks such as bread, yoghurt. 2. 73.6% of teachers said they reward children with sweets for good behavior. 3. Activities related to oral health was done in daycare center were : children brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste(79.9%), catering staff receive the education about nutrition(79.2%), children participate in the activities and training related to food(78.5%), using sugary food at a birthday party(77.3%), annual dental health check-up by a dentist(65.3%). 4. The percentages of guiding principles based on documentation in the topic of the oral health were : coping with a situation where a child injured his or her teeth(76.4%), annual dental health checkup by a dentist(72.2%), teachers supervise children's tooth brushing using a fluoride toothpaste(70.8%). 5. Documented guide or course for oral health includes the following; training for coping with tooth damage(76.4%), annual dental health check-up(72.2%), and coaching children to brush their teeth with toothpaste that contains fluoride(70.8%). Conclusions : It is believed that for better children's oral healthcare, childcare teacher should be given a range of in-depth oral health program. Furthermore, through detailed analysis on the documented guide of oral health, cooperation from the associated organization will be required to have the guide placed at the childcare center.
