Introduction:

Oral health is crucial for children's development, speech, nutrition, and self-esteem. Maintaining good oral health during childhood prevents serious dental issues in adulthood and reduces the need for costly treatments later on.

Objective:

To assess the knowledge level, attitudes, and practices regarding oral health among children aged 6 to 12 years at a school located in the metropolitan area of Asunción.

Results:

A total of 202 children participated in the study, of whom 51.0% were male, with a mean age of 9 years (SD = 4.24 years). Approximately 55% of the children had gingivitis. Primary teeth cavities were present in 35.6% of the participants, while 48.9% had cavities in their permanent teeth. Regarding dietary knowledge, 98.02% of the participants correctly identified foods harmful to dental health. Most children learned brushing techniques from their parents; however, consistent parental supervision was reportedly lacking.

Conclusion:

Despite demonstrating good knowledge and generally adequate oral hygiene practices, nearly half of the children had cavities in their permanent teeth. The data suggest that the lack of regular parental supervision of brushing techniques could be a significant contributing factor to dental caries.

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