Our first-year Dental Hygiene students made a great impression on local pre-schoolers during a recent visit to seven inner-city schools in Dublin. The visit was part of a first-year oral health promotion activity aimed at encouraging healthy habits from an early age.
The students undertake the activity during one of their modules, Oral Health and the Community, which emphasises the dental team’s role in promoting oral health through education, prevention and early intervention. Throughout the course, students gain a practical insight into their professional responsibilities and learn how their skills and knowledge will have a positive impact on oral health outcomes for individuals and communities. Developing such healthy habits in childhood can also have long-term effects on overall health.
During the visits, the students designed and delivered simple, interactive oral health demonstrations and games, focusing on toothbrushing, healthy food choices and routine visits to the dentist and dental hygienist. Pre- and post-activity questionnaires were prepared, and it was particularly rewarding to see the children confidently answering questions and chatting enthusiastically about brushing their teeth at home. Their excitement and willingness to engage demonstrated a strong understanding of the key oral health messages being taught.
A big thank you to the Dental Health Foundation, Colgate and Ocean Healthcare (TePe) for donating the colourful goody bags, containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, tooth stickers and information leaflets for parents/guardians, which will help the children develop their oral health skills at home.
