Effectiveness of game-based oral health educational tools among school children: An educational, interventional, observational study

Context: Conventional oral health education often fails to maintain children’s interest and produce sustained behavioral change. Game-based learning provides an engaging approach that may improve oral health awareness and practices among school children. Aims: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of the Smile and Climb Board Game and the Smile Safari Crossword Puzzle with conventional oral health education in improving knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP), and oral hygiene status among children aged 6–12 years. Settings and Design: An educational, interventional, observational study conducted among 90 school children from private schools in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Methods: Participants were divided into three groups ( n = 30 each): Group I – conventional oral health education (control), Group II – conventional education plus Smile and Climb Board Game, and Group III – conventional education plus Smile Safari Crossword Puzzle. KAP questionnaire, Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S), and plaque index (PI) were recorded at baseline and after a 7-day intervention. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 19. Chi-square test and one-way analysis of variance were applied. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Both game-based groups showed significantly greater improvement in KAP scores, OHI-S, and plaque scores than the control group ( P < 0.05). The Smile and Climb Board Game produced superior outcomes compared with the crossword puzzle. Conclusions: Game-based oral health education is more effective than conventional methods, with the Smile and Climb Board Game demonstrating the greatest impact.