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 development and poor hygiene. Almost all preventive programs usually include oral hygiene instructions or educational part of oral hygiene.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of the project was to train children in the classrooms to promote healthy behaviours regarding dental care and to increase the knowledge and behaviours of children regarding oral hygiene by 20%.
METHODOLOGY: The target group for this project was the children aged 5-11years old. The project team consisted of 5 members was formed and the selection of the visited schools was done followed by seeking permission from the authorities mean while the letters were sent to the schools. Total of 5 schools accepted the project. The program included presentations, lectures by health educators and instructions about proper ways of brushing and flossing teeth, with illustrations and video demonstrations. All the participants from the primary schools received a toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste from Colgate Palmolive Company.
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