[Stars: a practical and positive intervention to improve tooth-brushing behaviour].

Abstract

At the basis of oral care for young people is improving self care. This is not always easily done in practice. The Dutch Oral Health Research Agenda of 2018 revealed that oral care professionals need an effective method to change the behaviour of their patients. Uitblinkers (Stars) is a theory-based interview method for oral care professionals to help parents improve their 2- to 10-year-old children s tooth brushing. The interview method aims at learning pedagogical skills so tooth brushing in children happens more easily. This article provides a description of the Uitblinkers intervention, highlighting 3 key components: how to make parents receptive to advice from the oral care professional, how to identify barriers that parents experience when brushing their children s teeth, and how to achieve an appropriate approach to tackling the identified barriers to tooth brushing.