Over 85% of children in Moldovan villages don't brush their teeth regularly, don't have personal toothbrushes or get them replaced very infrequently, says a health expert.

Dr. Aurelia Spinei, a co-author of the draft 2015-2020 National Program on Children's Oral Health, has told IPN that many parents don't make sure their children have personal dental hygiene products, as elementary as a toothpaste with a toothbrush, which should be changed once in three months.

In many cases parents say they just can't afford toothbrushes for the family. “What we have in fact is a poor education regarding oral hygiene. “Parents don't set a good example for their children, who lack guidance and motivation. At school they don't get proper specific education either”, says Dr. Spinei.

Another widespread unhealthy habit among the Moldovan parents, according to Dr. Spinei, is to pre-chew the food which they give to their babies. “Having a different microflora and various germs in their mouths, the parents can pass them on to the children, who have a weak immunity and can be exposed to risks which they cannot face. They can get the streptococcus mutans, the main germ responsible for cavities and tooth decay. It's been scientifically proven that children get this microbe from their parents and grandparents”.

Access to dental care is extremely limited for children in rural areas as dentists are a rarity in villages. The dental equipment in the public sector clinics is obsolete and worn out. Further, half of the dentists working in the public sector treat both adults and children, but only 12.87% of them have the specific qualification for treating children.

Aurelia Spinei recommends that a committee should be created to monitor oral health and ensure a consolidation of institutional capacity to prevent and treat oral pathologies among children. Another recommendation is for the communities and educational institutions to engage in awareness raising efforts to improve oral health literacy.