Parents' and caregivers' knowledge and attitudes toward the use of fluoride treatments and dental sealants in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Children's dental health is closely linked to the knowledge and practices of parents and caregivers, especially regarding caries prevention. This study aims to assess their knowledge and attitudes toward fluoride treatments and dental sealants for children aged 6 to 12 in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling to recruit parents and caregivers from the Eastern Province. Participants were invited to complete an online questionnaire shared via social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat. A total of 336 parents and caregivers from the Eastern Province participated. Most parents demonstrated good knowledge of caries prevention, especially regarding regular toothpaste use (97%), brushing (96.4%), and filling decayed teeth (85.4%). Awareness of fluoride mouthwash, fluoridated water, flossing, and professional fluoride application was lower (<70%). Regular dental visits (69.6%) and brushing children's teeth (88.4%) were common, while daily flossing (53.3%), professional fluoride application (59.2%), fluoride mouthwash use (51.8%), and consumption of fluoridated water (49.1%) were less frequent. Sealant application was reported by 61.3% of participants. While parents show strong engagement with basic dental care, gaps remain in understanding and utilizing additional preventive measures. Targeted educational efforts are recommended to raise awareness about fluoride applications, promote daily flossing, and encourage the establishment of a dental home by age one.