In an effort to raise awareness about good dental hygiene, local dentist Dr Olenka Brutsch and her dental team organised a fun programme for primary school childrenabout the importance of oral hygiene.
In an effort to raise awareness about good dental hygiene, local dentist Dr Olenka Brutsch and her dental team organised a fun programme for primary school childrenabout the importance of oral hygiene.
The medical clown, Maoz Meiri entertained learners from Grades R to 2 as well as learners from various primary schools at the CM Vellem sports grounds on Tuesday.
Learners from Makana Primary School, Samuel Ntlebi Primary School, CM Vellem Primary School and Kuyasa Special school were offered oral health education while teachers were encouraged to educate their learners about the importance of oral hygiene. According to Brutsch, many families cannot afford consultations so community dentists visit the schools on a weekly basis. While entertaining the learners, Meiri read a book entitled Josh and the tooth monster which tells the story of a little boy who has to fight against germs by looking after his teeth.
Brutsch also said that the dental team runs a special programme where they conduct fissure sealing which means they apply a sealer on the first set of molars. Such programmes are conducted throughout the whole Cacadu district. She also said that they run a friendly dental clinic where they create fun ways of communicating with children who are scared of dentists and teach them about the functions of dental machinery. "The dentist’s chair is called Mr Chair and the dental suction is called a vacuum cleaner which removes all the dirt," she said. She said that it’s extremely important to create teaching standards that suits a specific age group. Makana sub-district manager of health, Nikiwe Mtoba says the programme is a good idea because children need to learn how to take care of their teeth. She also said "although the education department provides children with toothbrushes and toothpaste, it’s important for them to know how to brush their teeth".
After the fun experience, Grade 2 learner Aphelele Mengisi says "I learned that we must brush our teeth twice daily because germs can ruin them." Another learner from Grade R, Yonela Kondlo says "I have learned that if we don’t clean our teeth the tooth monster will damage them."
