Designing Digital Strategies to Promote Children’s Oral Health

Abstract

Children's oral health is one of the basic indicators of public health; accordingly, this policy brief was developed based on the findings of a controlled clinical trial study conducted in Isfahan. According to the study results, it was reported that a digital educational intervention using educational videos for parents, engaging and musical animations for children, and support and reminders via social media improved the oral health index in children aged 4 to 6 years. Accordingly, considering digital technologies as a facilitative tool for delivering personalized health education, this document analyzes three possible policy options: 1) designing digital educational packages based on the COM-B behavior change model in national school and kindergarten health programs, 2) designing and distributing free educational and interactive mobile applications for parents and children, and 3) implementing supplementary face-to-face educational programs focusing on disadvantaged areas. Considering the implementation requirements, stakeholders, benefits, and challenges associated with each strategy, this policy brief proposes implementation priorities for policymakers. The proposed strategy is a three-phase program. It begins with the development of a national digital education platform to promote children's oral health in the short term, is integrated into formal educational and health structures, and is completed with a focus on health equity and coverage of disadvantaged areas. Investment in this strategy, as a model for behavior change interventions in the field of public health, can lead to improvements in children's oral health. © 2025, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.