“Social Media and Adolescent Oral Health. a Scoping Review”

Objectives: To map the literature on use of social media regarding oral health among adolescents.
Methods: The review was conducted according to the framework suggested by Arksey and O’Malley. Studies were included if they reported on use of social media regarding oral health among adolescents. Seven databases were searched including Medline, Web of Science, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane library and ProQuest Dissertations &, and Theses Global. Study selection and data extraction were completed in duplicate.
Results: A total of 1488 records were identified, of which 1118 titles and abstracts and 41 full-text articles were screened for eligibility. Eleven papers were included in the review (2 systematic reviews, 2 RCTs, and 7 cross-sectional studies). Twenty-one to thirty-six percent of adolescents with access to the internet used social media for oral health purposes, especially after treatment for oral health diseases. YouTube was the most preferred social media followed by TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Social media usage for oral health information included oral hygiene instructions as well as causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment of oral diseases. Excessive use of social media increased dental caries prevalence, DMFT scores, and untreated dental caries. Adolescents using social media were also prone to unhealthy eating habits including increased intake of sugary snacks and juices. Social media use was positively associated with toothbrushing, decreasing plaque levels, and periodontal indices, but negatively associated with dental visits.
Conclusions: Adolescents often use social media to obtain information about oral health. Further quantitative and qualitative evidence is needed to better understand and examine the relationship between social media and oral health in adolescents.