PORT MARIA, St Mary — Twenty five students of Port Maria Infant School are brushing up on healthy habits, thanks to a new oral health initiative launched by the school’s guidance department in partnership with Wide Smiles Dental.

During a visit to the school on Thursday a dental team taught students the fundamentals of oral care. The infants learned proper brushing techniques, the importance of flossing, and how sugary snacks contribute to tooth decay. Using large dental models, students practised what they learned during an interactive, age-appropriate session.

Guidance counsellor Dorian Murphy explained what led to the initiative.

“It was a need that I saw where students and parents were not aware of, or placed little emphasis on, oral health,” Murphy told the Jamaica Observer.

“Many children don’t realise that healthy teeth affect confidence, speech, and overall health. Starting with our infants means we can build good habits from the foundation,” she added.

Murphy said she hopes to expand the programme to more students in the new school term, and include parents in future sessions.

Wide Smiles Dental’s Dr Ajani Blake told the Observer he was pleased to partner on the project as he has noted a clear gap in oral health education.

“Most people do not see the need to go to a dentist unless there is a problem; to start from when they are young, it is a good thing,” he said.

Dr Blake stressed that parents are responsible for the brushing and care of children’s teeth up to age eight, and from then each child should independently care for his teeth, under parental supervision.

Wide Smiles Dental has done several outreach activities in St Mary and other parishes.

“We would partner with others, including the Ministry of Health, to do outreach programmes — which we are happy to do,” explained Dr Blake, who said there is a real need for oral education across the country.

— Ingrid Henry