Study Shows Benefits of Texting Oral Care Reminders
When teenagers get texts reminding them to take care of their teeth does that actually motivate them to pick up a brush? Researchers in the United Kingdom believe so.
Dental caries is a significant problem across the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 2 billion people have caries in their permanent teeth and 514 million children experience decay in their primary teeth. The WHO reports factors involved in this include inadequate exposure to fluoride, widespread availability of sugary foods, and lack of access to community oral care.1
Regardless of geographic location, dental caries can exact a stiff price on children, impacting eating, learning, and overall health. Its effect is most severe for kids from low-income families. Overall, a third of kids in the 12- to 15-year-old age group have tooth decay. In areas of poverty, that increases to half.2
PREVENTION BY TEXT
A recent study led by researchers at the University of Sheffield in partnership with other universities in the United Kingdom sought to determine the clinical and cost effectiveness of behavior change intervention that promoted toothbrushing to prevent dental caries in secondary school kids.2
Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the BRIGHT trial followed 4,680 secondary school students, ages 11 to 13, who had their own cell phones, over 2.5 years. The study subjects, from 42 schools in England, Scotland, and Wales, received a classroom lesson and text messages twice a day about toothbrushing.2,3
MIXED RESULTS
Though researchers report that the overall impact on caries prevention was not significant, such methods of intervention did positively affect self-reported brushing habits. Among low-income students, there was some evidence of tooth-decay prevention. The study showed that the combination of school-based oral health lessons and text message reminders may help teens, especially those from low-income families, up their toothbrushing game.
Says a lead author of the study, Zoe Marshman, BDS, MPH, DDPH, FDS (DPH), PhD, a professor at the University of Sheffield’s School of Clinical Dentistry, “Pupils who received the lesson and text messages reported brushing their teeth more often after 6 months, but did not have less tooth decay or plaque after 2.5 years. Pupils eligible for free school meals, however, may have benefited more than others suggesting a potential for the programme to reduce inequalities in oral health.”2
ESTABLISHING GOOD HABITS IS CRITICAL
The problem of caries is a multifaceted one. Marshman notes that despite the myriad problems caused by tooth decay among kids in secondary school, there have been no school-based initiatives for this age group. She stresses, however, the importance of establishing solid toothbrushing habits in this demographic.
The text messages and lessons were well-received by students and teachers. Although challenges were identified with delivering text messages, the lesson plans have been downloaded almost 1,000 times.
The study highlighted the need to better understand the factors that influence oral health habits in teenagers, particularly sugar consumption. Researchers will now use these results to find better ways to help secondary school pupils maintain good oral health.
REFERENCES
- World Health Organization. Oral Health.
- Huxtable A. Text message reminders can help improve oral health in teenagers. University of Sheffield News.
- Innes N, Fairhurst C, Whiteside K, et al. Behaviour change intervention for toothbrushing (lesson and text messages) to prevent dental caries in secondary school pupils: The BRIGHT randomized control trial. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2024;52:469-478.
