Parent-Reported Oral Health Status and Dental Care Habits in Primary Schoolchildren: The Preventive and the Reactive Pathways

Background/Objectives: Paediatric oral health during primary school years profoundly impacts systemic development and psychosocial wellbeing, with parental health habits heavily dictating whether care follows a preventive or a reactive pathway. The aim of this study was to evaluate parent-reported oral health status, oral hygiene habits, and dietary patterns in primary schoolchildren, as well as parental awareness regarding the impact of oral health on children’s overall wellbeing across preventive and reactive care pathways. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, administering an online questionnaire to 1889 parents of primary schoolchildren, which evaluated the parent’s knowledge, behaviors and attitudes regarding the oral health and diet of their children. Results: Parent-perceived child oral and gum health was overall favorable, with girls (p<0.01) and children of parents with higher educational background (p<0.001) receiving higher ratings. While toothbrushing with fluoridated toothpaste was widely reported, fluoride usage and dental flossing remained heavily stratified by socio-demographic factors (p<0.001). The consumption of fruits, sweet bakeries and cariogenic snacks was frequent and soft drink intake demonstrated an age-dependent increase (p=0.001). Dental pain was rarely reported; increased pain frequency was correlated with poorer parent-perceived oral health ratings and cariogenic diets (p<0.001). Child dental visits were predominantly low or reactive, with non-attendance and pain-triggered visits significantly linked to rural residence, lower parental academic attainment, poor brushing frequency and cariogenic diets, which affected the children’s quality of life (p<0.001). Conclusions: Schoolchildren’s oral healthcare remains largely reactive, with dental pain serving as the primary trigger for dental service utilization, despite generally favorable parental perceptions.