Sustainability of oral hygiene habits through digital and participatory educational interventions

Abstract

Dental caries has been one of the most prevalent diseases, posing a challenge to public health and society's well-being. Therefore, oral health education has established itself as a tool for preventing this condition and promoting healthy habits from an early age. Therefore, this study evaluated educational initiatives, including digital resources, gamification, and participatory interventions, in the prevention of dental caries in diverse populations, and their influence on knowledge, attitudes, and oral hygiene habits.To this end, a descriptive review of studies was conducted, focusing on educational interventions implemented in school, community, and digital settings. Digital and participatory educational interventions were shown to improve children's and caregivers' knowledge about oral hygiene, increasing brushing frequency and technique, and reducing dental plaque. In fact, the combination of in-person and virtual interventions, as well as adaptation to cultural and family environments, enhanced the sustained adoption of preventive habits. Likewise, the participation of parents, teachers, and communities reinforced the effectiveness and replicability of the interventions. It was concluded that comprehensive educational interventions, based on digital resources and participatory methodologies, constitute an effective approach for the early prevention of dental caries. Therefore, implementation adapted to the sociocultural environment and with family participation ensures the sustainability of healthy habits and guides future studies to target long-term educational interventions, as well as those in vulnerable populations.