World Oral Health Month

Institute of Dental Sciences, Bareilly, successfully celebrated World Oral Health Month 2026 through a series of awareness, preventive, and community outreach activities aimed at promoting oral health among children, teachers, healthcare professionals, vulnerable populations, and the general public.

A total of 92 school-based oral health camps were conducted across urban and rural areas, benefiting 15,926 children. Activities included oral screening, dental awareness talks, model demonstrations, dental games, sample distribution, dental calendar distribution, oral health ambassador programs, teacher training programs, and prop photography activities. To strengthen school-based oral health promotion, Teacher training programs were conducted in 51 schools, while Sugar Board Drives were organized in 31 schools and online oral health awareness sessions were conducted in 38 schools. Parent-child oral health sessions, storytelling activities, Good Food–Bad Food demonstrations, DnMe Squad activities, caries progression model demonstrations, flossing demonstrations, and patient counselling programs further enhanced awareness and participation.

Special emphasis was placed on outreach to vulnerable and underserved populations through dental camps at Community Health Centres, old age homes, religious places, and special schools. A denture fabrication drive for old age home residents, fluoride varnish application programs, and preventive dental services were conducted to improve access to oral healthcare. An outreach program for 80 children with special healthcare needs included dental screening, topical fluoride application, customized toothbrush distribution, and interactive educational activities.

To expand community engagement, awareness talks, webinars on oral health topics, training programs for healthcare professionals, dental fair, walkathon, and Nukkad Natak (street plays) were organized. A special radio awareness talk broadcast through All India Radio reached approximately 2 crore listeners. The campaign was further strengthened through 172 awareness banners, 29 articles published in Amrit Vichar, 23 articles in newspapers from Uttar Pradesh and other states and a 31-day social media awareness campaign.

Overall, the campaign successfully promoted preventive oral healthcare, improved oral health literacy, and reinforced the message that a healthy mouth is essential for a healthy and happy life.