mHealth for Oral Care in Aging: A Narrative Review of Mobile Applications for Older Adults and Caregivers.

Population aging, persistent oral health inequalities, and growing reliance on informal caregiving are creating new challenges for oral healthcare systems worldwide. Mobile health technologies (mHealth) are increasingly being used to support oral health promotion, self-care, monitoring, caregiver assistance, and workforce training. However, it remains unclear whether existing applications adequately address the needs of older adults and their caregivers. This narrative review examined the current landscape of mHealth applications for oral health in aging populations, with particular attention to tools supporting self-care, clinical monitoring, caregiver assistance, and primary healthcare training. Following the SANRA framework, we reviewed studies published between January 2000 and May 2026 and analyzed their functionalities, target users, usability, and the evidence supporting their development and implementation. Applications for oral health education and literacy were the most frequently reported. In contrast, relatively few tools were developed specifically for caregivers, dependent older adults, or individuals with cognitive impairment. Cultural and linguistic adaptation was also uncommon. Across categories, most applications had been evaluated primarily through usability or feasibility studies, with limited evidence regarding clinical effectiveness, long-term outcomes, or integration into routine healthcare services. Viewed in the context of the WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021-2030 and the Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health 2023-2030, these findings suggest that while mHealth may contribute to improving oral healthcare for older adults, important gaps remain in clinical validation, accessibility, and adaptation to diverse populations and care settings.