A Social Media Intervention for Promoting Oral Health Behaviors in Adolescents: A Non-Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial

Susana J. Calderon; Carissa L. Comnick; Alissa Villhauer; Teresa Marshall; Jan-Ulrik Dahl; Jeffrey A. Banas; David R. Drake

doi:10.3390/oral3020018

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A Social Media Intervention for Promoting Oral Health Behaviors in Adolescents: A Non-Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

A Social Media Intervention for Promoting Oral Health Behaviors in Adolescents: A Non-Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial

Susana J. Calderon, Carissa L. Comnick, Alissa Villhauer, Teresa Marshall, Jan-Ulrik Dahl, Jeffrey A. Banas and David R. Drake

Oral (Basel, Switzerland), Vol.3(2), pp.203-214

05/09/2023

DOI: 10.3390/oral3020018

PMCID: PMC10757568

PMID: 38162993

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Abstract

Poor oral hygiene and excessive consumption of soda are among the main drivers of systemic health issues in adolescents in the United States. This non-randomized pilot clinical trial focused on the effects of a health text message system and smartphone-based intervention on adolescent tooth-brushing behavior and dietary choices, with a convenience sample of 94 participants aged 12 to 14 years old. A group of 75 participants agreed to use a tooth-brushing app and received a health text message; the other group of 15 agreed to use the tooth-brushing app, but did not receive a health text message. Saliva specimens were collected directly before and at the end of each experiment; changes in the salivary presence of cariogenic bacteria over the duration of the study were evaluated and compared with the demographics and behavioral variables. Within the text message group, 5% of participants increased the frequency of daily tooth brushing. Within the non-intervention group, 29% of participants increased the frequency of their daily tooth brushing. There were reductions in the total salivary bacteria and total streptococci in both groups (p < 0.001), but no change in the presence of cariogenic Mutans streptococci. Raising adolescents’ consciousness of oral health behavior resulted in marginal to moderate improvements to oral hygiene and dietary choices, as well as reductions in total salivary bacteria.

Details

Title: Subtitle: A Social Media Intervention for Promoting Oral Health Behaviors in Adolescents: A Non-Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial
Creators: Susana J. Calderon - Illinois State University
Carissa L. Comnick - University of Iowa
Alissa Villhauer - University of Iowa
Teresa Marshall - University of Iowa
Jan-Ulrik Dahl - Illinois State University
Jeffrey A. Banas - University of Iowa
David R. Drake - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Oral (Basel, Switzerland), Vol.3(2), pp.203-214
DOI: 10.3390/oral3020018
PMID: 38162993
PMCID: PMC10757568
NLM abbreviation: Oral (Basel)
ISSN: 2673-6373
eISSN: 2673-6373
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000072, name: NIDCR, award: 5T90DE023520-07, R01DE026716; name: Global Oral Care Department, Procter & Gamble Company
Language: English
Date published: 05/09/2023
Academic Unit: Preventive and Community Dentistry; Endodontics; Pediatric Dentistry; Dental Research
Record Identifier: 9984410799302771

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