A Healthy Mouth, A Happy Child: Improving Oral Health Awareness in Children

This Continuing Dental Education (CDE) lecture was conducted at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR), Klang, in conjunction with World Oral Health Day 2026 to promote oral health awareness in children among multidisciplinary healthcare professionals.

The session addressed oral health as an integral component of general health, highlighting the significant global and Malaysian burden of oral diseases. Early childhood caries (ECC) was emphasised as a highly prevalent yet preventable condition with substantial impact on children’s growth, development, quality of life, and healthcare utilisation.

A clinical case was presented to illustrate a preventable hospital admission due to untreated dental caries requiring intravenous antibiotics and planned treatment under general anaesthesia. This reinforced the importance of early detection and timely intervention across all healthcare settings.

The lecture focused on prevention across the life course, particularly during the first 1000 days, and highlighted key risk factors, including frequent sugar exposure and suboptimal oral hygiene. Practical, evidence-based strategies were shared, including appropriate use of fluoride toothpaste (≥1000 ppm), feeding advice, and early establishment of a dental home.

Participants were equipped with simple screening approaches such as the “lift-the-lip” technique and clear referral pathways for both urgent and routine dental conditions. The session emphasised the shared responsibility of doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals in recognising early signs, providing preventive advice, and facilitating timely referral.

Overall, the lecture strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration and reinforced the need to integrate oral health promotion and disease prevention into routine paediatric healthcare to reduce avoidable disease burden and improve child health outcomes.