GDCH, Mumbai: Healthy Habits for a Bright Future- Oral Health Awareness and Screening Camp

GDCH, Mumbai: Healthy Habits for a Bright Future- Oral Health Awareness and Screening Camp

The Department of Public Health Dentistry, Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai, successfully organized an Oral Health Screening and Education Camp on 30 January 2026 at Rising Star Preschool, MHADA Colony, Mankhurd. The camp was conducted with the objective of promoting preventive oral healthcare and oral hygiene awareness among preschool children. 

Target Population

Preschool students and early learners residing in the MHADA Colony urban cluster.

Number of Beneficiaries

180 young students received professional dental screenings and interactive oral health training.

Rationale

The "Bright Future" of a child starts with the "Healthy Habits" formed today. In high-density residential colonies like MHADA, children are often exposed to a wide variety of sugary snacks and processed foods. Without early intervention, these dietary patterns can lead to aggressive tooth decay in primary teeth. By bringing a large-scale camp to Rising Star Preschool, the aim was to instill a sense of "dental pride" in these 180 students. 

Objectives

• Conduct a comprehensive oral health audit of a large preschool population to identify urgent clinical needs.
• Teach toddlers the fundamentals of "Circle Brushing" to build their manual dexterity.
• Educate children on the difference between "tooth-friendly" snacks and those that cause "sugar bugs."
• To create awareness among the caregivers and bridge the gap between school health and home-care.

Activities Conducted

Given the large number of young children, the camp was organized into high-engagement activity stations:

1. Interactive Oral Health Education

• The oversized models and puppets were used to demonstrate the correct circular motion. Each child was encouraged to "Tell, Show, and Do" to ensure they mastered the technique.
• A fun, visual game where children identified tooth-healthy foods like apples and milk versus sticky candies and sodas.

2. Clinical Oral Health Screening

A systematic intra-oral examination was conducted for all 180 students to assess:

• Identifying Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and recording the need for preventive measures.
• Monitoring the spacing and growth of the primary dentition.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of home-care and identifying areas for improvement.

Impact

This outreach has set a new benchmark for preschool dental health in Mankhurd.

• By educating 180 children, the program has reached 180 families in the MHADA colony, creating a community-wide conversation on dental health.
• Identified several cases of asymptomatic decay that can now be managed with simple fillings rather than extractions.
• 100% of the students had a "fear-free" encounter with the dental surgeons, reducing future dental anxiety.

Conclusion

The “A Happy Mouth is… A Happy Life” initiative at Rising Star Preschool successfully demonstrated that with the right habits, every child can have a bright future. As we move closer to the global celebrations in March, the Department of Public Health Dentistry continues to lead the charge for pediatric oral health equity in Mumbai.