Oral Health Education for

Children
 The education of the children promises the chance of
improving economic and social conditions; their health
and good nutrition can promote longevity, lower social
costs and lead to a better quality of life;
 Teach the children that visiting the dentist is a necessity,
and the dentist will take care of his/her teeth so that they
are strong enough for him to eat and he/she will have a
beautiful smile for years to come.
We will concentrate on the children from the middle years (7
through 11 years).

 Many habits are developed early in life.

 What children in middle years see and hear at home, in their
school, their community and in media, influences their
behaviours, attitudes and world views.
 Children have the amazing ability to adapt and learn new
things, so if you take them to the dentist, they will get used to
the idea that there is a place where someone will take care of
their teeth;
By the age of thirteen, almost everyone has all of his or her
permanent teeth.

Bringing the children for regular cleaning

and checkup appointments will always keep the oral health to the
optimal level.
 Oral Health Education:

Education through entertainment

Interactive Communication

Participatory Communication
 Education through entertainment:

 Media (such as books, newspapers, magazines, television, radio, cinema,

computers, Internet, mobile phones) serve today as one of the most central
socializing agents, forming behaviours, attitudes and world views;
 Entertainment-education operates through all media and the arts, including
film, theater, music, art, television programs, radio programs, live
performances, and sports events. Whatever can be considered entertaining
can also be educational;
 Book illustrations, posters, films, television spots and series or another
forms of media can be used to make the materials child-friendly. Messages
need to be tailored for the specific child audience, and have to include their
needs, perspectives and points of view in order to relate to them in effective
and helpful ways.
 Interactive Communication

 Interactive communication is when children are inspired to be more attentive

and to participate in the story; asking children questions, and giving them
sufficient time to answer, including interactive activities (write, draw, post a
photo, etc.) at the end of communication for children;
 Using child-appropriate language, characters, stories, music and humour,
animation, television spots;
 Interaction can also be added with traditional media such as books, plays,
puppetry, song;
 Presenting real-life positive situations, and the actual participation of children
in productions.
 Participatory Communication
 Turning Theory into Practice;
 Children learn best through experimentation and discovery of facts and
relationships on their own, rather than being asked to memorize facts or learn by
listening;
 Children can be asked to manipulate materials, experiment, make assumptions
and discover by themselves;
 Involve “question and answer” interactions and encourage talk;
 Discovery learning: Including games and branching scenarios that utilize their
skills and test their knowledge;
 The more we invite the children to express themselves, use body movement,
think critically and provide feedback, the closer we come to true participatory
communication.
How To Make Oral Health Education For
Children Fun And Effective

• Activities

• Classroom Videos

• Printable Materials
• You can use eggs to teach kids how acidic drinks can destroy their
teeth.
• Painting Activity
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuLxz5IrZ6Y
Smiling Seal Pediatric Dentistry
Valencia, California
• Teeth can last 80 years or more
• Your mouth is home to 300 types
of bacteria.
• Many diseases are linked to your
oral health, including heart disease,
osteoporosis, and diabetes