Väitös (sosiaalihammaslääketiede): HLL Hanna Suokko

HLL Hanna Suokko esittää väitöskirjansa ”Changes in toothbrushing and factors associated with toothbrushing in early childhood – Findings from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study” julkisesti tarkastettavaksi Turun yliopistossa perjantaina 13.11.2026 klo 12.00 (Turun yliopisto, Pharmacity, Pha1- luentosali, Itäinen Pitkäkatu 4, Turku).

Vastaväittäjänä toimii emeritaprofessori Vuokko Anttonen (Oulun yliopisto) ja kustoksena professori Satu Lahti (Turun yliopisto). Tilaisuus on suomenkielinen. Väitöksen alana on sosiaalihammaslääketiede.

Yleisön on mahdollista osallistua väitökseen myös etäyhteyden kautta. https://utu.zoom.us/j/67204398119 (meeting ID: 672 0439 8119, salasana: 585187).

Tiivistelmä väitöstutkimuksesta:

One of the key findings of this doctoral thesis was that children's toothbrushing routines were established at a very early age. By the age of two, most children had already developed a stable toothbrushing routine, and only about one-third changed their brushing frequency between the ages of one and four years. Parents' toothbrushing habits were more strongly associated with their child's toothbrushing frequency than any other factor examined. For example, when neither parent brushed their own teeth twice daily, children were about nine times more likely to have their teeth brushed less than twice daily at the age of one year. In addition, poor toothbrushing at the age of one was the strongest predictor of poor toothbrushing at the age of two, suggesting that toothbrushing routines established early in life tend to persist.

The study adds new knowledge by examining the roles of both mothers and fathers in the development of children's toothbrushing habits. Previous studies have often focused mainly on mothers, but the findings show that both parents play an important role. Although the associations differed somewhat between mothers and fathers, the results highlight the importance of involving both parents in promoting healthy toothbrushing habits from an early age.

The findings have important implications for preventive child health services. Oral health promotion should begin already during pregnancy, when maternity clinics have an opportunity to address parents' own oral health behaviors and support the adoption of healthy family routines before the child is born. By supporting both mothers and fathers, healthcare professionals can help families establish healthy habits that promote children's oral health and contribute to their overall health and well-being throughout childhood.