Oral health is essential to general health and quality of life. Dental caries is the most common chronic diseases and however it can be easily prevented by proper preventive practices. Of all the preventive practices, tooth-brushing has been the most effective and simple way to prevent dental caries as well as periodontal disease. November 7 is observed as National Tooth brushing day in India to reinforce the importance of children’s oral health and promote good tooth-brushing habits recommended by dental health professionals. This program is launched from 2015 to educate parents and kids to brush twice daily for at least two minutes to help reduce the risk of oral diseases.
On this day, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental sciences, SBV, Pondicherry has organized a mass tooth brushing demonstration in Chethilal Government High School, Abhishegapakkam. In collaboration with Colgate Palmolive, free Oral Health Kit was distributed to all the school children and demonstration of proper brushing technique was done to all the school children. Around 340 school children were provided with Oral Health Kit and benefitted from this program. The school teachers were also educated regarding importance of oral health and maintaining oral hygiene. Students were interested in correcting their brushing technique and demonstrated proper brushing technique on the tooth model. In addition, a radio program (Pudiya Udayam 91.2, Community Radio Station) was done to educate general public on the importance of oral health and brushing.
