Bedtime routines and children's dental health
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An examination of the relationship between bedtime routines and dental health in families with young children
IRAS ID
238552
Contact name
Iain Pretty
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 24 days
Research summary
The present study attempts to examine the relationship between bedtime routines and dental health in young children (ages 3-7). Bedtime routines have shown important associations with a variety of child wellbeing and development areas including quality of sleep, school readiness and school performance as well as dental health. This projects aims to further understand how differences in the quality of bedtime routines, from optimal routines covering elements such as toothbrushing, avoidance of snacks etc., to sub-optimal routines, ones that omit elements on a nightly basis, will affect the prevalence of dental disease. When controlling for other parameters such as socio-demographic and socio-economic factors and within a small geographic area there are still large disparities in the prevalence of dental caries in young children. Despite possible biological and genetic factors resulting in those differences there are definitely other factors that are highly associated with this phenomenon which are yet to be investigated fully. The present study will represent a unique approach in examining multiple layers of individual, family and social concepts within a single study design. That necessary innovative approach will revolve around bedtime routines. Bedtime routines could potentially represent a distinct time period within each family’s everyday routine where issues regarding parenting styles and behaviours manifest themselves through the approach that each parent/family is using in relation to bedtime routines Once we gain a better understanding regarding this relationship we aim to move forward with the development of a bedtime routines interventions by consulting parents in focus groups. The development of an innovative bedtime routines assessment is our final goal however, this aspect will not be covered under this project and will follow the end of this study.
REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NE/0013
Date of REC Opinion
8 Jan 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion