Objective To explore the effect of information-knowledge-attitude-practice (IKAP) based oral health education for elderly stroke patients. Methods A total of 108 elderly stroke patients were chronologically assigned to control group (n=54) or intervention group (n=54), receiving either routine oral health education or IKAP based oral health education. The Oral Health Assessment Tool, Oral Health Literacy Scale for Stroke Patients and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 were utilized to assess the effect before, immediately after, and at 3 months after the intervention. Results Totally, 50 participants in the control group and 51 in the intervention group completed the study. Significant group, time and group-by-time interaction effects were found in the scores measured by the above mentioned scales (all P<0.05). Conclusion IKAP-based oral health education can improve oral health status, oral health literacy and oral related quality of life in elderly stroke patients.