BEYOND TOOTHBRUSH PROJECT PROJECT SUMMARY INTRODUCTION: The oral health in Tanzania is far from being satisfactory. The recent studies conducted in this field showed that the knowledge level of children about the importance of oral health was poor. Dental caries as one of the oral health diseases is the most common chronic disease of children aged 5 to 11 years - five times more common than asthma. Many studies suggest that magnitude and severity of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth continue to be a major problem and should receive special attention. The four most accepted measures for prevention of dental caries and its complications are: oral hygiene, dietary counselling, fluoride, and fissure sealant. The first two measures do not require much expenditure. They can be implemented in any place via an educational program. Good hygiene and diet can prevent periodontal disease and dental caries. Many studies provided evidence of strong association between caries deve...