WhatsApp Messages to Improve Mothers' Oral Health Knowledge and Children's Toothbrushing

Summary

Tooth decay is one of the most common health problems in young children in Saudi Arabia. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is one of the most effective ways to prevent it, but preschool children cannot do this properly on their own and depend on their mothers to brush for them and to supervise them. Mothers usually receive oral health advice only once, during a dental visit, and a single session may not be enough to change daily habits at home.

This study will test whether short oral health messages sent to mothers on WhatsApp, in addition to the usual face-to-face advice, help mothers know more about toothbrushing and help their children brush better.

Mothers of children aged 3 to 6 years attending the Pediatric Dentistry Clinics at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah will be invited to take part. All mothers will first answer a short questionnaire about what they know about toothbrushing and how their child currently brushes. All mothers will then receive the same 10 to 15 minute face-to-face oral health education session. After the session, each mother will be placed into one of two groups by chance, like flipping a coin. Mothers in the first group will also receive two WhatsApp messages a week for eight weeks, sixteen messages in total, covering how often to brush, how much fluoride toothpaste to use, correct brushing technique, and how to help and supervise their child. Mothers in the second group will not receive these messages.

After eight weeks, all mothers will answer the same questionnaire again, and the answers of the two groups will be compared. Taking part involves no dental treatment or procedures beyond the child's normal care, and mothers may withdraw at any time.

Conditions

• Oral Health
• Dental Caries
• Early Childhood Cariesv
• Health Behavior
• Oral Hygiene

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Standardized Face-to-Face Oral Health Education

A single individual education session of 10 to 15 minutes delivered in Arabic by the principal investigator immediately after baseline assessment, covering the importance of toothbrushing, recommended frequency and timing, use of fluoridated toothpaste, proper brushing technique, parental assistance and supervision, and toothbrush selection and maintenance, supported by standardized visual materials. Arms: Both arms

BEHAVIORAL

WhatsApp-Based Oral Health Messages

Sixteen oral health messages delivered individually via WhatsApp in Arabic, two per week for eight weeks, reinforcing the toothbrushing content of the education session. Messages may include text, images, or short videos from evidence-based sources including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association, and are reviewed by a pediatric dentist before delivery. Arms: Experimental arm only

Sponsors & Collaborators

• King Abdulaziz University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-08-30

Primary Completion

2027-04-30

Completion

2027-08-30