In Denmark the Public Dental Health Service (PDHS) is now in the process of evaluation and revision of oral health education programs. The purpose of the present survey was 1) to evaluate the pattern of oral health behavior among 6-year-old children in relation to family and social characteristics; 2) to describe the level of dental knowledge and attitudes among the parents; and 3) to estimate the relative effect on caries experience of social and behavioral risk factors. The study comprised 212 children (response, 73%), and the parents responded to self-administered questionnaires. Moreover, information on def-s and DMF-S was collected from the epidemiologic recording systems for the PDHS. With regard to dental caries, 98% of the parents were aware of the harmful effect of sugar, and 88% knew about the role of bacteria. The causal effect of bacteria in relation to periodontal disease was stressed by 81%. Most of the parents (93%) believed that the dental diseases are preventable by means of proper oral hygiene habits, restriction of sugar and sweets, and the use of fluorides. The high level of dental knowledge among the parents was related to information given by the PDHS. Toothbrushing at least twice a day was performed by 88% of the children, and most used fluoridated toothpaste. Practical support to the children was given by 45% of the parents, and 55% checked the teeth. On a daily basis, the children had healthy foods like vegetables (59%), fruits (87%), and milk (89%), and orangeade was consumed by 53%; 45% of the children consumed sweets on a specific weekday ('Saturday sweets').(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)