Aim: To study the brushing status of preschoolers in rural areas- Kanchipuram district Introduction: Tooth brushing habits which is learnt in the early stages of life, is deeply inculcated in the minds of children. It is expected that it leads to a good oral hygiene in their later life. This study aimed to evaluate oral hygiene practices and brushing status among pre-schoolers of Kanchipuram district. Materials and Method: The survey was conducted for 50 preschool children from Kanchipuram district. The survey was conducted online through survey planet and the link was sent to their parents. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions asking about the brushing status of their child. The results and percentage were evaluated. Results: Most of the pre-schoolers do not follow proper brushing habits. Only 22% of pre-schoolers brush twice a day. 56% of pre-schoolers spend only 5 minutes in brushing. Only 78% of them use fluoridated toothpaste and the remaining 22% of them use non-fluoridated toothpaste, which is one of the reasons for prevalent dental caries.68% of children follow horizontal system of brushing and the remaining 32% do not follow any systematic method. Conclusion: Many parents were also unaware of dental caries and gingival diseases. Parents were not proactive in ensuring proper dental care to their children. Thus proper bushing technique and oral hygiene maintenance must be inculcated in pre-schoolers.
