ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the association between the perception of caregivers regarding the oral health of their children and socio-demographic characteristics, report of dental pain, and clinical oral conditions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 570 children aged two to five years old, enrolled at public preschools, and with their caregivers. Data regarding perceptions of oral health status in children, socio-demographic characteristics, and dental pain were collected from a questionnaire. Three examiners (Kappa>0.7) evaluated children’s oral health status using the dmft index, pufa index, and the Andreasen classification for traumatic dental injury (TDI). The occurrence of open bite and overjet was also investigated. Descriptive analyses, and unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression were used, considering a 5% significance level. Results: A total of 24.7% of children had poor oral health status, which increased 4.92-fold (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 3.05-7.93) when children had dental caries, and 3.78-fold (95%CI 1.63-8.76) when there were consequences from dental caries. The perception of poor oral health was also associated to open bite (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.98; 95%CI 1.16-3.38) and TDI (OR 1.68; 95%CI 1.06-2.68). No associations were found between the perception of caregivers and socio-demographic variables or overjet. Conclusions: The perception of caregivers of poor oral health in their children was associated to dental caries, its consequences, TDI, and open bite.