Assessment of the current evidence on repeated oral health education in children’s oral health care: A scoping review

Abstract

Repeated oral health education is considered an approach to improving oral hygiene behaviours in children; however, evidence regarding the frequency and interval between interventions remains inconsistent. This study aimed to describe and map the existing evidence on repeated oral health education in children. This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Literature searches were conducted using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar from January to March 2026. Five studies involving a total of 1,368 participants were included in the analysis. The studies varied in design, setting, frequency of repeated education, follow-up duration, delivery methods, and outcome measures. Intervention models lasted 2, 3 or 6 months, with repeated education delivered three to six times. Outcomes included plaque index, gingival index, community periodontal index, and knowledge, attitudes and practices. Overall, repeated oral health education showed a tendency to improve and maintain oral health behaviours in children, particularly when combined with practical instruction and periodic reinforcement, although its effectiveness was not entirely consistent.