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. 

Two sites were selected for this campaign: King DinuZulu Hospital Complex (a public healthcare institution in KwaZulu-Natal) and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville campus). The target stakeholders included children, teenagers, students, adults, hospital staff and management, lecturers, academic support staff and geriatric patients. Students set up educational tables at each department, provided oral health talks, conducted screenings, booked patients to the dental department, and handed out oral hygiene samples to maintain a healthy smile.  The following departments were targeted and reached out to on this day: 

• Psychiatric Ward
• Paediatric Ward
• Occupational therapy and Physio department
• Pharmacy
• Reception
• Dental
• University campus 

Through this initiative and joining hands in commemorating World Oral Health Day, this campaign will be sustained through regular enforcement of oral hygiene education and instructions followed by school outreach programmes, including in-service screening of paediatric patients at the training hospital.