Consortium of Electronic Gadgets on Oral Health, General Health and Quality of Life of Children in Jammu Province

Background: Just another hour, please! This is what most parents hear from their children every time it is time to stop using an electronic gadget. In this fast-moving world, Electronic gadgets, the latest exquisite invention, have become an inevitable part of our everyday life and are popular among children as well. While they are convenient to use, can have adverse effects on the oral health, general health and quality of life of children. Thus, it is imperative to explore its effect of daily life of the children. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of duration of electronic gadget usage on oral health, general health, and the quality of life of children. Method: The study was conducted among 531 dyads of parents and children aged between 3 to 14 yrs using electronic gadgets. For adequate and effective quantification of data, the research instruments used in this study were, a structured questionnaire for interview, DMFT/deft scores, scales for measurement of height and weight, review of result card and vision test. Result: The results of this study indicated that use of electronic gadgets for ≥ 5 hrs by children significantly affected their oral health, general health and overall quality of life. Conclusion: Children are the foundation of our country's future. Therefore, it is imperative to safeguard children against the potential risks associated with increased duration of electronic gadget use. There is a need to optimize gadget usage and promote oral and general health measures in children