Award winners
Year 2026
Most educational activity
Tanzania Dental Association
The Tanzania Dental Association took World Oral Health Day across the country, delivering oral health education, counselling, screenings and treatment in schools, health facilities, maternity clinics, special needs centres, prisons, workplaces and community spaces.
A week-long Oral Health Week culminated in the national WOHD celebration in the Manyara Region, including an awareness walk that brought together government leaders, healthcare professionals, educators, journalists, religious leaders, students and communities. The wider campaign also supported continuing professional development for oral health professionals.
318,414 PEOPLE RECEIVED FACE-TO-FACE ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION
More than 56,000 people were screened, school outreach reached over 202,000 primary school students, and 10,000+ participants were reached through maternal and child health clinics.
Best media campaign
Turkish Dental Association
Making oral health impossible to miss
The Turkish Dental Association put World Oral Health Day in the spotlight with a nationwide campaign spanning social media, press, outdoor advertising, educational events and community activities to increase oral health awareness and promote preventive dentistry.
More than 95 digital accounts shared videos, stories, carousel posts and other campaign content, while press releases generated national and local media coverage. The campaign also appeared on billboards at Kahramanmaraş Airport and in professional publications, while collaborations with local dental chambers, students, oral health professionals and industry partners helped take the campaign into communities across multiple provinces.
2.5+ MILLION SOCIAL MEDIA VIEWS
The campaign also generated 149 digital news articles and more than 89,000 visits to online coverage.
Most Engaging Community Campaign
Arrow Dental Center, Kenya
Turning oral health into a nationwide movement
To mark World Oral Health Day, Arrow Dental Center delivered its Smiles Without Borders campaign under the official WOHD theme ‘A Happy Mouth is a Happy Life’. Working with the Ministry of Health and partners across Kenya, it took oral health education, preventive care and outreach into schools, workplaces, universities, faith communities and more to create one of Kenya’s most impactful oral health movements.
The scale was extraordinary: activity across 23 counties, more than 900,000 direct beneficiaries, outreach to 301 schools, and a Kibera Mega Dental Camp that served over 60,000 people. The campaign combined face-to-face action with music, cultural engagement, media and technology, including an AI-powered oral health chatbot.
900,000+ PEOPLE REACHED
Digital and media activity generated more than 61.8 million cumulative views, while a Kiswahili WOHD anthem achieved more than 2 million views and inspired seven vernacular adaptations.
Best Campaign by a Dental Students Association
The Hermosillo Dental Student Association, Mexico
The Hermosillo Dental Student Association brought prevention, education, professional development and community engagement together in activities spanning schools, academic events and community outreach.
A major highlight was the launch of the nationwide CEIPIDI school-based prevention programme, with dental students and professionals delivering oral health education and helping children build healthy habits. Kindergarten sessions also used games, colouring activities and Toothie to make learning about nutrition and toothbrushing fun and memorable.
Activities also connected with the Magno Congreso de Odontología XLIV and an IADS international volunteering programme, creating opportunities for education and collaboration with key stakeholders, including government representatives and industry partners.
EDUCATION + COLLABORATION + ACTION
962 participants reached across schools, academic events and outreach activities.