Social media use and adolescent oral health: A scoping review

Social media has revolutionized information sharing, particularly among adolescents who frequently use it for health-related content. However, their use of social media concerning oral health remains unclear. This scoping review aims to map available literature on the use of social media regarding oral health among adolescents.

Following Arksey & O'Malley's framework and PRISMA-SCR guidelines, comprehensive searches were conducted in Medline (Ovid), PubMed, and Scopus databases from January 2013 to December 2024. Reference lists of relevant studies were also reviewed. Two researchers independently screened and extracted relevant data from eligible studies. The data included publication year, authors, country, study design, aims, social media platforms, comparisons, assessed outcomes, and key findings. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize quantifiable aspects and content analysis was employed to define categories and report the key findings.

Of 1938 records, 1312 titles and abstracts and 73 full-text articles were screened. Seventeen relevant studies were identified, including 2 reviews and 15 primary studies. These studies included six clinical trials and five cross-sectional studies. Three studies didn't indicate the study design. In addition to social media's effectiveness in improving oral health literacy, behaviors, and outcomes, such as plaque, gingival, and caries indices, the studies reported on patient compliance and sharing treatment-related experiences.

This review highlights the growing influence of social media on adolescents' oral health literacy and practices. Further research is necessary to explore adolescents' perspectives on social media use for oral health and develop effective interventions that address the unique needs of this demographic.