According to Gram Research analysis, Myanmar migrant parents in Thailand want to care for their children’s teeth but face significant barriers including limited knowledge about baby teeth, reliance on unreliable social media information, and obstacles like cost, work schedules, language barriers, and immigration concerns. A 2026 qualitative study of 23 migrant parents found that while parents understand tooth pain is a problem, many don’t realize baby teeth are important, and most seek dental care only when problems become obvious rather than preventing them through regular checkups.
A new study looked at how Myanmar parents living in Thailand understand and care for their children’s teeth. Researchers interviewed 23 parents and found that while parents want to help their kids have healthy teeth, they face real challenges. Many parents don’t realize that baby teeth are important, get confused about diet and fluoride, and rely on social media for health information without knowing if it’s accurate. Money problems, work schedules, language barriers, and past bad experiences at the dentist also keep families from getting dental care. The good news: parents are willing to seek help when they see their child has a tooth problem.
Key Statistics
A 2026 qualitative study of 23 Myanmar migrant parents in Thailand found that many parents didn’t understand why baby teeth matter, despite recognizing that cavities and tooth pain are problems.
According to a 2026 study of migrant families in Thailand, social media served as the primary source of dental health information for parents, though their ability to assess whether the information was reliable varied considerably.
Research from a 2026 study of 23 Myanmar migrant parents identified five major barriers to dental care: financial constraints, work schedules, language barriers, immigration concerns, and negative past experiences at dental clinics.
A 2026 qualitative study found that despite facing multiple barriers, Myanmar migrant parents expressed strong willingness to seek dental care for their children when the need was clearly evident.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How well Myanmar parents living in Thailand understand their children’s dental health and whether they take their kids to the dentist
- Who participated: 23 Myanmar migrant parents living in central Thailand, each with at least one child aged 5-6 years old
- Key finding: Parents care about their kids’ teeth but face major barriers including money problems, work conflicts, language difficulties, and confusion about whether baby teeth really matter
- What it means for you: If you’re a migrant parent or work with migrant families, this research shows why dental care gets skipped—and that better education and support could help. Parents need clearer information about baby teeth and easier access to affordable dental services.
The Research Details
Researchers conducted a qualitative study, which means they had in-depth conversations with parents rather than collecting numbers and statistics. They interviewed 23 Myanmar parents living in Thailand, speaking with each parent one-on-one in the Myanmar language to make sure everyone could communicate clearly. The researchers asked open-ended questions to understand how parents think about their children’s teeth, where they get information, and what stops them from going to the dentist.
After collecting all the interviews, the research team carefully read through everything parents said, line by line, looking for common themes and patterns. They organized what they heard into three main categories: what parents know about teeth and what they do at home, where parents find information about dental health, and whether and why parents take their kids to the dentist.
This approach is valuable because it captures the real experiences and challenges that numbers alone cannot show. By talking directly to parents in their own language, researchers could understand the cultural beliefs, practical barriers, and decision-making that shape how families care for children’s teeth.
Understanding why migrant families don’t always get dental care is important because it’s not usually because parents don’t care—it’s because they face real obstacles. By listening to parents’ actual experiences, researchers can identify exactly what needs to change: better education, more affordable services, language support, and culturally sensitive dental care. This information helps dentists, health workers, and policymakers create solutions that actually work for migrant communities.
This study has several strengths: researchers conducted interviews in parents’ native language, which reduces misunderstandings; they used a systematic approach to analyze the data; and they focused on a specific, underserved population. However, the study only included 23 parents from one region of Thailand, so the findings may not apply to all migrant families everywhere. The study is descriptive rather than experimental, meaning it describes what parents think and do rather than testing whether a specific intervention works. This is appropriate for exploring a complex social issue, but readers should understand that the findings show patterns and themes rather than prove cause-and-effect relationships.
What the Results Show
The research revealed three major areas where migrant parents struggle with children’s dental health. First, parents had incomplete knowledge about teeth: while they understood that cavities and tooth pain are problems, many didn’t realize that baby teeth are important for eating, speaking, and guiding adult teeth into place. Some parents thought baby teeth don’t matter because they fall out anyway. Parents also had mixed understanding of how diet and fluoride affect teeth—some knew sugar was bad, but many weren’t sure about the details.
Second, parents relied heavily on social media for dental information. When they had questions or concerns, they turned to Facebook, YouTube, and messaging apps rather than asking dentists. The problem: parents couldn’t always tell which information was reliable and which was wrong. Some parents got good advice, but others found misleading or outdated information.
Third, parents took their kids to the dentist only when there was a visible problem—like pain or a broken tooth—rather than going for regular checkups to prevent problems. This reactive approach meant kids often had more serious dental issues by the time they got care. Parents explained that they wanted to prevent problems, but several barriers got in the way: not having enough money for dental visits, work schedules that didn’t allow time off, difficulty communicating in Thai, worries about their immigration status, and bad experiences at the dentist in the past.
An important secondary finding was that despite these barriers, parents expressed strong motivation to seek dental care when they clearly saw their child needed it. This suggests that education and awareness could be powerful tools—if parents understood that regular checkups prevent serious problems, they might prioritize dental visits differently. The study also found that parents’ immigration status created anxiety about seeking healthcare, even when they needed it. Additionally, the research showed that parents wanted to do the right thing for their children’s health but lacked the knowledge, resources, and support systems to do so consistently.
This study adds important detail to what researchers already know about migrant families and healthcare. Previous research has shown that migrant populations face barriers to healthcare generally, but this study specifically examines dental health in children and reveals that the barriers are interconnected—it’s not just about money, but also language, trust, knowledge, and immigration concerns all working together. The finding about social media as a primary information source reflects broader trends in how people seek health information today, but this study shows that migrant parents may be especially vulnerable to misinformation because they lack other reliable sources.
This study has several important limitations to keep in mind. It included only 23 parents from one region of Thailand, so the findings may not apply to Myanmar migrant families in other parts of Thailand or other countries. The study didn’t include parents of children outside the 5-6 age range, so we don’t know if older or younger children’s parents have different experiences. Because researchers only interviewed parents and not dentists or health workers, we don’t have the full picture of what barriers exist on the healthcare provider side. Finally, qualitative research like this describes patterns and themes rather than measuring how common each barrier is across the entire migrant population.
The Bottom Line
Based on this research, several evidence-based recommendations emerge: (1) Develop dental education materials specifically for migrant parents in their native languages, focusing on why baby teeth matter and how diet affects teeth—confidence level: HIGH, as parents clearly want this information; (2) Create trusted online resources and fact-checking guides to help parents evaluate dental information on social media—confidence level: MODERATE, as this addresses a real gap but requires ongoing effort; (3) Establish affordable, accessible dental clinics with interpreters and flexible hours in migrant communities—confidence level: HIGH, as financial and logistical barriers are clearly documented; (4) Implement preventive dental programs in schools and community centers to reach children before problems develop—confidence level: MODERATE, as this could shift parents from reactive to preventive care.
Dentists and dental clinics serving migrant communities should absolutely pay attention to these findings. Public health officials and policymakers who work on healthcare access for vulnerable populations need this information to design better services. Parents in migrant communities will recognize themselves in this research and may find validation for the challenges they face. Teachers and school administrators in areas with migrant populations can use these insights to support children’s dental health. However, this research is specifically about Myanmar migrant families in Thailand, so while the general patterns may apply to other migrant groups, the specific cultural details and barriers may differ.
Realistic expectations depend on what changes: If a parent gets better education about baby teeth and diet, they might change their home care practices within weeks. If a community opens an affordable dental clinic with interpreters, families might start using it within months as word spreads. However, shifting from reactive to preventive dental care—where parents bring kids for regular checkups instead of waiting for problems—typically takes 6-12 months as trust builds and habits change. Seeing improvements in children’s actual dental health usually takes 1-2 years of consistent preventive care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do migrant parents struggle to take their kids to the dentist?
A 2026 study of Myanmar migrant families in Thailand identified five main barriers: not enough money for dental visits, work schedules that don’t allow time off, difficulty speaking Thai, worries about immigration status, and bad past experiences at the dentist. These barriers work together to make dental care difficult.
Do migrant parents care about their children’s dental health?
Yes—research shows migrant parents strongly want to care for their kids’ teeth and actively seek help when they see a problem. The issue isn’t lack of caring but lack of knowledge, resources, and access to reliable information and affordable services.
What do migrant parents get wrong about baby teeth?
A 2026 study found many migrant parents don’t realize baby teeth are important because they eventually fall out. Parents didn’t understand that baby teeth help kids eat, speak clearly, and guide adult teeth into the right position.
Where do migrant parents find dental health information?
According to a 2026 study, migrant parents primarily used social media like Facebook and YouTube for dental information. The problem: they couldn’t always tell which information was accurate, making them vulnerable to misinformation.
How can communities better support migrant families’ dental health?
Research suggests three key changes: provide dental education in parents’ native languages focusing on baby teeth importance, create affordable clinics with interpreters and flexible hours, and implement preventive programs in schools to catch problems early before they become serious.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track dental visit frequency: log each dental appointment (preventive or treatment-based), note the reason, and set reminders for the next recommended visit. This helps shift from reactive to preventive care by making the pattern visible.
- Set a monthly reminder to review one piece of dental health information from a trusted source (like a dentist’s website or official health organization) rather than social media. Share one fact with your child each week to build their understanding of why teeth matter.
- Over 3-6 months, track: (1) number of preventive vs. reactive dental visits, (2) child’s brushing consistency using a daily checklist, (3) reduction in tooth pain or problems reported. This long-term view helps families see whether education and access improvements are working.
This research describes the experiences and beliefs of Myanmar migrant parents in Thailand and should not be interpreted as medical advice. The findings are based on qualitative interviews with 23 parents from one region and may not apply to all migrant families or other populations. Parents should consult with qualified dentists for personalized advice about their children’s dental health. If you have concerns about your child’s teeth, speak with a dental professional rather than relying solely on social media or online sources. This article is for educational purposes and does not replace professional dental care or diagnosis.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.