Supporting global hands for better oral healthcare

The final-year oral hygiene and dental therapy students of the Discipline of Dentistry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) conducted a campaign to educate and raise awareness of the importance of oral health promotion. Given the theme for 2025, “A Happy Mouth is... A Happy Mind,” students educated various stakeholders on how to take care of their oral cavity while addressing issues that may affect their mental health through patient counselling. 

The Discipline of Dentistry celebrated World Oral Health Day with an engaging awareness campaign to educate patients, students, staff, academics, and other stakeholders on the importance of oral health. This initiative also focused on identifying dental issues that affect holistic well-being and was presented by final-year Dental Therapy and Oral Hygiene students through two parallel events held at UKZN’s Westville campus and King Dinuzulu Hospital Complex. 

At the Westville campus, staff and students turned out in large numbers to learn about various brushing techniques and the benefits of different oral hygiene products. The highlight of the event was the interactive fun and games, including Pin the Crown on the Tooth Blindfolded, Guess How Many Mints Are in the Jar, and Ring-toss, where participants aimed to throw a ring around a bottle of mouthwash to win oral hygiene products like toothpaste and mouthwash. Nearly 400 UKZN students from various disciplines participated in these activities. Dental screenings were also offered, with almost 200 students waiting for free dental examinations. Of those screened, around 70 were given appointments at King Dinuzulu Hospital for further dental treatment.

At King Dinuzulu Hospital, educational tables were set up in various departments, including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychiatry, paediatrics, dental, pharmacy, and hospital reception. These departments were targeted to operationalise the programme’s theme while exposing students to real-world settings and fostering interprofessional collaboration. Activities included oral health talks, patient counselling on mental health, dental screenings, live Q&A sessions, and interactive games. Students distributed oral hygiene products to both patients and staff. Three hundred ten patients were screened, and several were booked for dental treatment. Educational material such as posters, pamphlets and theme messages were distributed among the stakeholders mentioned. 

In addition, 150 individuals were screened and provided dental check-ups at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) and referred to the dental clinic at DUT and King DinuZulu Hospital.  Pamphlets and toothpaste samples were distributed among individuals, reminding them of the importance of the WOHD2025 theme mentioned. 

Link: https://ndabaonline.ukzn.ac.za/UkzndabaStory/Vol13-Issue04/UKZN%20Celebrates%20World%20Oral%20Health%20Day/ 

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