Education and health are deeply connected with each other. If we want our children to gain knowledge and perform well in academics they should be healthy enough to attend their classes regularly. Just like any other ailment, toothache is one of the top most contributing factors to loss of class hours and absenteeism.
A 2018 study published in the Indian Journal of Dental Research shows that one out of two children in India has dental cavities and that tooth decay is spiking up in school- going children who have milk teeth or a mixture of milk teeth and permanent teeth.
In a study published in the Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, it has been reported that lack of oral health awareness is one of the significant causes of the rise in dental decay other than changes in lifestyle and food habits. That is where the school oral health programs come into play.
How can school oral health programs benefit children?
A school oral health program is a combination of different procedures conducted at the school level that helps in achieving and maintaining good oral health in children. Through school oral health programs, a school child can:
- Understand the significance of a healthy mouth
- Learn how oral and overall health are closely associated
- Observe dental health practices like personal and professional oral care
- Understand the importance of healthy eating habits and the potential damage that deleterious oral habits can cause.
- What are the different aspects of school oral health programs?
Oral health education
Through different health education materials like powerpoint presentations, the children are educated about the importance of oral health and why their milk teeth need the same amount of care as their permanent teeth. Apart from that, the significance of balanced nutrition is also emphasised upon. Children are encouraged to learn best oral hygiene practices (like brushing twice a day) that can keep oral diseases at bay.
Dental screening
For activities like dental screenings, a consent form is sent to the parents seeking permission to conduct oral examination and dental treatments for their wards. In dental screenings, the dentist examines the teeth and identifies any issues that need to be addressed. Any dental problem like the presence of a cavity is notified to the parents so that they can seek treatments accordingly.
Preventive dental procedures
Dental procedures like application of fluoride varnish are effective ways of preventing dental decay in children. Another common preventive dental procedure is the application of dental sealants in small pits and grooves on permanent molars of children to protect them and keep them cavity-free.
Trinity Care Foundation takes pride in having been able to conduct school oral health programs in several schools in rural
and urban Bangalore that have benefited over 1,57,000 plus children in the past 15 years. We all know that our children define the future of our nation. Hence, let us join hands together to ensure that our future generations have beautiful and healthy smiles.