PLASTIC FREE SMILES PROJECT 2023-2024

Plastic Free Smiles project is an environmental and oral health project designed by Dr. Winfred Mgaya under the umbrella of Tanzania Oral Health Foundation. The project aims to raise awareness on the effects of plastic pollution to the environment specifically caused by plastic toothbrushes and advocating on the adoption of eco-friendly toothbrushes to reduce the plastic pollution caused by plastic toothbrushes.

The project is structured to have two phases that will start from November 2023 to April 2024 and May 2024 to November 2024. The project includes physical meetings with target groups as well as online and social media campaigns

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the advocacy campaign is to raise awareness of the environmental impact of plastic toothbrushes while encouraging people to make the switch to eco-friendly toothbrushes. Specifically, the objectives are:

1. To educate the public on the harmful effects of plastic toothbrushes on the environment.

2. To promote the use of wooden toothbrushes as an eco-friendly alternative.

3. To encourage dental practitioners to promote eco-friendly products for good health and sustainability.

4. To influence consumers' habits in their everyday lives to make environmentally friendly choices.

STAKEHOLDERS

Miracle Corners of the World (MCW)

MCW Global is a non-profit organization with a vision for communities around the world to achieve greater levels of education, improved health, and increased economic security. Its mission is to address communities’ pressing needs by empowering current leaders and readying leaders of tomorrow. Founded in 1999, MCW Global is based in New York with affiliates in Africa (Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia). MCW Global offers Young Leaders and Africa Programs. Their programs, MCW seeks to act with integrity, compassion, accountability, responsibility, and excellence.

Tanzania Oral Health Foundation (TOHF)

The Oral Health Foundation is a local non-government organization which emerged out of the need to comprehensively and sustainably address the rising prevalence of oral diseases and associated issues in Tanzania. Many individuals, associations, professional bodies and institutions recognize the need to have joint action to address oral diseases. The common oral diseases are tooth decay, periodontal diseases (disease of the gums) and oral cancer. These diseases have common risk factors: inappropriate diet with excessive sugar; poor oral hygiene; tobacco use; and exposure to environmental toxins. Furthermore, there is a close link between some common diseases, e.g. diabetes mellitus and HIV/AIDS, and oral diseases. The vision for TOHF is “A Tanzanian people, living in an environment that is protective against the risks of developing oral diseases" and its vision is to provide free oral health education (preventive education), services and oral hygiene equipment to all Tanzanians and advocate for fair access to oral health education resources and services.

PROJECT STATUS –FIRST PHASE (NOVEMBER 2023- MARCH 2024)

MILESTONES

During the first phase of our project, we worked together with an eco-friendly company called Japwano Bamboo which specializes in producing bamboo toothbrushes. They supported us by providing eco-friendly toothbrushes to dentists during our meetings with them. Our initial stage of the project involved meeting with oral health practitioners and introducing them to our cause. We aimed to raise awareness of the harmful effects of plastic pollution caused by plastic toothbrushes, and we emphasized the importance of switching to eco-friendly alternatives. We also discussed the role of oral health practitioners in advising their patients to make eco-friendly choices for the betterment of our environment. The sessions were conducted by Dr Winfred Mgaya who talked on the project itself, Ms. Mariam from Japwano Bamboo who talked about the production of bamboo toothbrushes and Mr Humphrey Mrema an environmental activist who talked about concepts of climate and environment.

To further spread the message, we organized dental clinic visits where we met dentists in person. During these visits, we provided them with eco-friendly toothbrushes and distributed fliers with messages on plastic pollution and the importance of eco-friendly products. We wanted to ensure that these practitioners had the necessary tools to educate their patients on the benefits of eco-friendly toothbrushes. We firmly believe that small changes can significantly impact the environment, and we are committed to promoting eco-friendly dental practices. During the recent meeting and dental clinic visits, 500 eco-friendly toothbrushes were distributed to the attending dentists. These toothbrushes were made from high-quality bamboo, which is a sustainable and renewable resource. The toothbrushes were provided by Japwano Bamboo Company, a leading manufacturer of eco-friendly products. The company has a strong commitment to sustainability and is dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of consumer products. The dentists were able to examine the toothbrushes and see for themselves the superior quality and efficiency of the bristles. The toothbrushes have a unique design that allows them to clean teeth thoroughly while being gentle on the gums.

The dentists were impressed by the effectiveness of the toothbrushes and recognized their potential to improve oral hygiene for their patients. They appreciated the opportunity to experience the toothbrushes firsthand and were grateful to Japwano Bamboo Company for providing them. After trying the toothbrushes, dentists are now better equipped to advise their patients on the benefits of using eco-friendly toothbrushes. They can confidently recommend these toothbrushes, knowing that they are of the highest quality and provide a superior level of cleaning. Overall, the distribution of these eco-friendly toothbrushes was a success, thanks to the support of Japwano Bamboo Company.