251 - Parental Oral Health and Nutrition Perceptions Regarding Sugar-Sweetened Beverages

Purpose: To assess the understanding of parents and guardians regarding sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and to determine if there is increased understanding of its negative effects after intervention.

Methods: Two hundred and ninety-six eligible parents/guardians of 7-12 year old ASA I/II children undergoing a comprehensive exam were included in this study. Parental knowledge of SSBs was assessed via two identical questionnaires completed pre- and post-intervention. Intervention was given via a visual aid infographic that contained facts related to the deleterious effects of SSBs.

Results: A total of 326 parents responded to the questionnaire, with 13 parents being excluded due to missing information. A paired t-test was used, which showed a statistically significant overall increase in knowledge obtained post intervention (p < .001).

Conclusion: The parents did demonstrate understanding the importance of drinking water over SSBs as well as improved knowledge of SSBs post the visual intervention. This study has demonstrated that a visual intervention during dental appointments can improve parental knowledge of proper drinking choices for their children.