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Mobile App to Improve Toothbrushing in Children and Teens with Autism

This study is testing two mobile apps to see if they can help children and teens (ages 8-17) with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) brush their teeth better. One app, called "Brush Up," is designed to be autism-friendly and includes a cartoon role model, a song, and customizable features. The other app, "Brush Down," is a control app with a digital mirror and timer but no autism-friendly features. Researchers want to see if the "Brush Up" app leads to better toothbrushing habits, duration, and frequency compared to the "Brush Down" app. They also want to understand if a caregiver's and child's belief in their ability to brush well (self-efficacy) helps form these habits and if better habits lead to a better quality of life related to oral health. The study plans to enroll 270 participants, but its current status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study where 270 participants will be randomly assigned to use either the "Brush Up" app or the "Brush Down" app. The study will last for one year.
What's involved
You and your child will complete several surveys about demographics, toothpaste, oral health behaviors, and social responsiveness. You will also use one of the study apps for a year.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary outcome of toothbrushing distribution will be measured at week 12 of the 3-month trial, but the overall study participation spans one year.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07446413

Mobile App-Based Intervention to Improve Toothbrushing in Children and Teens With Autism

Enrolling by Invitation
NAAges 8–17InterventionalTreatment
University of Washington
~270 participants
Updated 2026-06-02 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Brush Up AppBrush Down App

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Toothbrushing distribution
Measured over The primary outcome will be measured based on data from week 12 of the 3-month trial.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Autism Spectrum Disorder

NCT07446413

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • University of Washington School of Dentistry

    Seattle, Washingtonno site contact published

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Donald L Chi, DDS, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Washington

Who to contact

This trial hasn't published a contact. View it on ClinicalTrials.gov

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Eligibility criteria

Exclusion

Children with autism younger than age 8 years at enrollment.
Children with autism who cannot brush their teeth without assistance (e.g., if caregiver needs to hold the toothbrush).
Children with autism who have a sibling enrolled in the trial. o For families with more than 1 eligible child with autism, we will enroll the youngest eligible child. Any other children from the same family who are not enrolled in the study will be given access to the app their sibling is using (experimental or control) after 3 months, if they are interested.

What this trial measures

  • Toothbrushing distributionThe primary outcome will be measured based on data from week 12 of the 3-month trial.

    The primary outcome being measured is toothbrushing distribution. Toothbrushing distribution refers to the mean proportion of different tooth surfaces in the mouth that should be brushed during each toothbrushing episode (i.e., lingual, buccal occlusal). For each subject, one toothbrushing episode per day will be randomly sampled during week 12 to measure distribution.