The Impact of Mobile Applications on Improving Oral Hygiene Knowledge and Skills of Adolescents: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background/Objectives: During adolescence, dental caries, erosions, and gingival diseases can significantly impact quality of life. Currently, mobile applications are widely used in health promotion, especially among teenagers, as they offer a modern approach to oral health education. This scoping review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile health (mHealth) applications in improving adolescents’ behavior and knowledge regarding oral hygiene. Methods: Searches were conducted in the Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar databases. Both randomized and non-randomized clinical trials published between 2015 and 2024 were analyzed. Selected studies evaluated oral hygiene behavior (knowledge and skills), as well as Plaque Index and gingival health indicators, by comparing a control group receiving traditional education with an intervention group using mobile applications for education. Results: Out of 738 articles found, only 21 met the eligibility criteria. Of the total number of included studies, 14 (66.6%) reported that adolescents in the intervention group utilizing mobile applications demonstrated superior plaque control and reduced gingival bleeding compared to those in the control group. Notably, this outcome was observed even in studies employing a single-group design. In contrast, five studies (23.8%) found no statistically significant differences between groups, while two studies (9.6%) indicated that traditional educational methods were more effective than modern methods. Conclusions: The analyzed studies indicate that mobile health applications can be valuable tools for improving adolescents’ oral health. However, some findings also demonstrate that traditional education methods yield similar positive effects.

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