P Gill K Stewart D Chetcuti IG Chestnutt Authors’ affiliations: Paul Gill, Faculty of Health, Sport and Science, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, UK, CF37 1DL Kate Stewart, Academic Unit for Primary Health Care, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2AA Dina Chetcuti, Cardiff University Dental Hospital, Cardiff, CF14 4XY Ivor G Chestnutt, Dental Public Health Unit, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK, CF14 4XY Correspondence to: Paul Gill Faulty of Health, Sport and Science, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, UK, CF37 1DL Tel.: 00 44 1443 486135 Fax: 00 44 1443 483095 E-mail: pwgill@glam.ac.uk Dates: Accepted 29 December 2009 To cite this article: Int J Dent Hygiene DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-5037.2010.00442.x Gill P, Stewart K, Chetcuti D, Chestnutt IG. Children’s understanding of and motivations for toothbrushing: a qualitative study. Ó 2010 John Wiley & Sons A ⁄ S Children’s understanding of and motivations for toothbrushing: a qualitative study Abstract: Objective: To explore children’s understanding of why they do or do not brush their teeth and their motivations for toothbrushing. Methods: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 66 children aged 6–7 years and 10–11 years in four purposively selected primary schools in Cardiff, UK. Data were analysed using a constructive process of Thematic Content Analysis and techniques of open and selective coding. Results: While a routine activity, toothbrushing was prompted rather than monitored by parents and easily fell by the wayside because of tiredness, excitement or distraction. Rationalizations for toothbrushing were poorly formed in the children’s accounts and related to ‘doom scenarios’ such as teeth falling out, or to issues of personal grooming and cleanliness rather than caries prevention. Electric (powered) toothbrushes were popular and had engaged the children’s interest. Social and domestic circumstances, such as when children stayed with different parents at different times, impacted on toothbrushing routines. Conclusion: This study has revealed information that is of value in directing oral health education messages, oral health promotion programmes and has identified issues that potentially affect compliance with toothbrushing that merit further investigation. Key words: child; children; dental caries; oral health education; oral hygiene; toothbrushing Introduction Despite being preventable, dental caries is one of the most common childhood diseases in the world (1). In many devel- oped countries, oral health has improved in older children in recent decades, but remains a significant problem in younger ORIGINAL ARTICLE Int J Dent Hygiene 1