Publication: Children's perspective on color, smell and flavor of toothpaste
Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Madhesh Institute of Health Sciences (MIHS)
Abstract
ABSTRACT:
Background: Tooth brushing must be done to prevent dental caries, but many children resist tooth brushing because of sensory aversions to toothpaste. As children's oral hygiene compliance relies heavily on enjoyment, it is important to know their preferences regarding toothpaste color, odor, and taste. Research indicates that attractive sensory traits can have a great impact on brushing frequency and duration in children. Objective: To assess children's perspective on sensory attributes of toothpaste namely: color, flavor and smell of toothpaste. Methods: It is a descriptive cross-sectional study which included 140 students studying in Zenith National Academy, Janakpurdham. The questionnaire along with the consent form, ascent form and information sheet were sent to the parents along with the students to fill the form. The data was analyzed using SPSS. Data were analyzed for frequencies, percentage, mean and standard deviation and presented in form of table. Results: The main reasons for selecting a particular toothpaste were taste (44%) and cleaning effectiveness (61%), followed by brand loyalty and advertisements. When asked about the most important attribute of toothpaste, most children prioritized how well it cleans their teeth, though sensory factors like taste and color still influenced their satisfaction and motivation. Over half of the children believed that kids’ toothpaste should taste like candy and be different from adult toothpaste, reflecting a desire for enjoyable and distinct flavors.
Conclusions: Children prefer red color, sweet taste and minty smell in their toothpaste. Primary motivation in brushing remains maintenance of "clean teeth” even in children.
Description
Pradip Kumar Yadav1, Resha Sharma2,*, Amrita Pandey3, Suraj Gupta3, Rajib Chaulagain4
¹Dental Surgeon, Department of Dentistry, Madhesh Institute of Health Sciences, Janakpurdham, Nepal
2Consultant Oral Surgeon, Department of Dentistry, Madhesh Institute of Health Sciences, Janakpurdham, Nepal
3Consultant Prosthodontist, Department of Dentistry, Madhesh Institute of Health Sciences, Janakpurdham, Nepal
4Associate Professor, Department of Dentistry, Madhesh Institute of Health Sciences, Janakpurdham, Nepal