Action
Brush your teeth
Oral hygiene as the target behaviour.
Studies (2)
Paper
Texts to parents helped bedtime routines for children's teeth, but not twice-daily brushingUsedNo differenceThree short texts a week to parents didn't clearly get more children's teeth brushed twice a day than usual care.
Randomised trial of 154 parents of young children with tooth decay · vs parents who got usual dental care and advice · they rated themselves · ⚠ not yet checked by other scientists; numbers unreliable
Paper
A school plan for bedtime brushing made brushing more automatic for kids, parents saidUsedHelpedParents said brushing was automatic for more kids with a bedtime plan than for kids given one lesson.
Trial of 164 children aged 7 to 8 in Indonesia · vs children who had one usual lesson on teeth · they rated themselves · ⚠ unclear how groups were picked; numbers unreliable; summary claims more than the results show
UsedMixedPlaque was lower than after one usual lesson at one month, but higher at two months.
Trial of 164 children aged 7 to 8 in Indonesia · vs children who had one usual lesson on teeth · they rated themselves · ⚠ unclear how groups were picked; numbers unreliable; summary claims more than the results show
Often used with it
Rule · where5
Put a visible cue where you'll do itA sticker, poster, object or wearable prompt at the point of action.
