This study evaluates a 16-week parent-focused digital intervention to improve oral health practices in children aged 6-10 through daily reminders, quizzes, challenges, gamification, and behavior tracking, supported by an optional moderated WhatsApp group for peer engagement and motivation.
The intervention includes daily reminders with two brushing cues and one snack tip to reinforce habits. Weekly quizzes with 3-5 questions assess knowledge, while photo/video tasks such as "Show your foam smile" or "Healthy lunchbox challenge" keep engagement high. Gamification features badges for streaks like a 7-day brushing badge or snack swap champion. Parents track brushing, flossing, and snack swaps via a 1-tap tracker, supported by an optional moderated WhatsApp group.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
800
The 16-week parent-focused digital intervention aims to improve oral health practices in children aged 6-10 by empowering parents through structured, engaging, and cost-effective activities. Parents receive daily reminders, including two brushing cues and one snack tip, to reinforce healthy routines. Weekly quizzes with 3-5 questions enhance knowledge retention, while interactive photo or video tasks such as "Show your foam smile" or "Healthy lunchbox challenge" promote family involvement and fun. Gamification strategies include awarding digital badges for streaks, such as the 7-day brushing badge and snack swap champion, to maintain motivation. Parents track brushing, flossing, and snack swaps using a simple 1-tap tracker, ensuring easy and consistent reporting. An optional moderated WhatsApp group provides a platform for sharing tips, photos, and encouragement, fostering a supportive peer community. The intervention combines education, habit formation, and social support to sustainab
White house grammar School
Chak Number Two North Branch, Punjab Province, Pakistan
Baqai Medical complex school
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Saleem ullah fahmi memorial school unit 1
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Saleem ullah fahmi school baqai Medical complex gharo, Karachi
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Oral health practices
Oral health practices by using the WHO Child Oral Health Questionnaire: o assess children's oral health practices through a structured set of questions. These questionnaires typically cover knowledge, attitude, and practices related to oral hygiene, including frequency of brushing, use of fluoride toothpaste, and dental visits. The score is used to evaluate the overall oral health practices of the child, often categorized as good, fair, or poor.
Time frame: 4-months
Oral Hygiene
Oral Hygiene will be assessed by the presence of debris (plaque) and calculus (tartar) on selected tooth surfaces, measured by the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) Individual Debris Index (DI-S) and Calculus Index (CI-S): Each of the six surfaces is scored individually for both debris and calculus using a 0-3 scale: 0: No debris or calculus is present. 1: Debris or calculus covers less than one-third of the surface. 2: Debris or calculus covers between one-third and two-thirds of the surface. 3: Debris or calculus covers more than two-thirds of the surface. Good: 0.0 - 1.2 Fair: 1.3 - 3.0 Poor: 3.1 - 6.0
Time frame: 4-months
Plaque score
Oral Hygiene will be assessed by the presence of debris (plaque) and calculus (tartar) on selected tooth surfaces, measured by the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) Individual Debris Index (DI-S) and Calculus Index (CI-S): Each of the six surfaces is scored individually for both debris and calculus using a 0-3 scale: 0: No debris or calculus is present. 1: Debris or calculus covers less than one-third of the surface. 2: Debris or calculus covers between one-third and two-thirds of the surface. 3: Debris or calculus covers more than two-thirds of the surface. Good: 0.0 - 1.2 Fair: 1.3 - 3.0 Poor: 3.1 - 6.0
Time frame: 4-months
Gingival score
Gingival score assessed by the gingival score index: 0: Normal gingiva, no inflammation. 1: Mild inflammation - slight color change and edema (swelling), no bleeding on probing. 2: Moderate inflammation - redness, edema, glazing, and bleeding on probing. 3: Severe inflammation - marked redness, edema, ulceration, and tendency towards spontaneous bleeding. The index typically uses a scale of 0 to 3, with 0 representing normal gingiva and higher scores indicating increasing severity of inflammation
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Time frame: 4-months