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SCHOOLCHILDREN are brushing up on oral health and hygiene with fact-finding visits to dental experts in the kingdom.
Royal Bahrain Hospital (RBH) a 60-bed, multi-specialty facility based in Salmaniya, hosted a students’ delegation from Dilmun School on a field trip to its Royal Dental Studio.
Dr Rajesh Radhakrishnan, specialist orthodontist at RBH, welcomed 40 students to his clinic, where he passed on valuable tips regarding dental care, advising the youngsters on the proper techniques of using a toothbrush.
He also urged the students to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables to help avoid toothaches and the dangers of decay before inviting them to sit on the dentist’s chair before undergoing a full dental check-up and learning more about the dental profession.
“Eat three healthy meals, brush twice a day for three to five minutes each time, and avoid unhealthy foods that are high in fat, sugar or salt, such as salty snacks, fizzy sugary drinks and fast food. That is the key to enjoying healthy teeth and a glowing smile forever,” Dr Radhakrishnan said.
“Children need to know about the importance of good oral health at an early age to adapt good habits of taking care of their teeth. The lessons the students learned during the visit can last for a lifetime.”
According to the World Health Organisation, 60 to 90 per cent of school children and nearly 100 per cent of adults have dental cavities worldwide that could have been prevented.
Also, severe periodontal (gum) disease, which may result in tooth loss, is found in 15 to 20 per cent of middle-aged (35-44 years) adults.
