World Oral Health Day Celebration Report: Special Events Organized by the Department of Public Health Dentistry

In celebration of World Oral Health Day, the Department of Public Health Dentistry, in collaboration with the "Health and Family Welfare, National Oral Health Program, Dakshina Kannada District," organized a series of impactful events aimed at raising awareness about oral health. These events, which included oral health check-ups, treatment camps, health talks, and roleplays demonstrating the importance of oral hygiene, were conducted between January 9 and March 20, 2025. The initiative focused on educating the public on the significance of maintaining good oral hygiene and providing direct healthcare services to those in need.

The program’s core objective was to engage local communities and educate them on oral health practices while also offering hands-on care. Through these events, participants received oral health check-ups, treatments where necessary, and preventive care such as the distribution of oral hygiene kits. Additionally, refreshments and small gifts were handed out, and participants in need of further care were referred to the Mangalore-based MCODS MANGALORE for advanced treatment.

A variety of locations were chosen for these events to maximize outreach, with the activities tailored to different age groups, from young children to older adults. The following summarizes the events by date, location, and participation:

1.     January 9, 2025 - St Antony Home: 17 participants The event here focused on providing basic oral health check-ups for residents.

2.     January 10, 2025 - Mangala Jyothi Special School: 81 participants Aimed at children with special needs, the event provided tailored dental care and education.

3.     January 24, 2025 - PHC Moodushedde: 9 participants This event catered to the rural population, offering essential dental screenings.

4.     January 31, 2025 - Canara School: 488 participants A large school engagement event, focusing on schoolchildren and spreading oral health awareness.

5.     February 3-4, 2025 - Carmel School Pandeshwar: 798 participants A two-day event with a major turnout, providing dental check-ups and guidance to students.

6.     February 7, 2025 - Tree House Preschool: 174 participants Preschool children were educated through interactive sessions, encouraging early oral hygiene practices.

7.     February 27, 2025 - Snehadeep Institute: 21 participants This event targeted individuals in specialized care centers, ensuring they received adequate oral healthcare.

8.     February 28, 2025 - St. Agnes School: 456 participants Another school event focused on educating students about the importance of regular dental care. The drawing competition was carried out for higher primary school with the theme on importance of oral health.

9.     March 6, 2025 - Carmel School: 798 participants A continuation of the successful engagement at Carmel School, with a focus on oral health awareness and preventive measures.

10.  March 10, 2025 - Stella Maris School Kotekar: 234 participants The school event reached out to another group of young learners, spreading the message of good oral health.

11.  March 10, 2025 - Explorer School, Manjeshwar: 394 participants This event targeted a diverse school population with a broad outreach on oral hygiene education.

12.  March 16, 2025 - Yuvaka Sangha Belthangady: 35 participants focused on community engagement, this event included a health talk and roleplay about oral hygiene.

13.  March 20, 2025 - Prashanth Nivas Jeppu: 19 participants The final event of the campaign took place here, offering oral health screenings and educational materials.

Throughout the campaign, the Department of Public Health Dentistry ensured that oral hygiene kits were distributed to participants, helping them to implement the lessons learned during the events. Health talks and demonstrations effectively communicated the message of oral health, emphasizing prevention and proper care practices.

The events, which reached a total of 3524 participants, successfully promoted better oral health awareness across Dakshina Kannada District, impacting a wide range of individuals from various schools, healthcare centers, and community groups. By integrating interactive methods such as roleplays and personalized health talks, the campaign fostered a deeper understanding of the importance of oral hygiene, contributing significantly to public health education in the region.