The week of October 5-9, 2009 is being observed as School Children’s Oral Health Awareness Week to address the oral health problems among school children. With the theme “Wastong Pangangalaga sa Ngipin Alamin, Antas ng Kaalaman Palawigin,’’ the week is one of the highlights of the Social Health Month in October.

It has been noted that 97 percent of first graders in public schools suffer from dental caries which contributes to school absenteeism. The other health problems include worm infestations, respiratory tract infections, and diarrhea.

If unattended, these diseases can affect a child’s physical health, well-being, growth, and achievements.

The Department of Education (DepEd) through the Health and Nutrition Center, which lead the celebration of School Children’s Oral Health Awareness Week, is giving priority to oral healthcare of school children so that they can meet their full potential.

The activities lined up for the celebration include lectures, symposiums, on oral health promotion and advocacy activities on oral health in schools and communities in collaboration with the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) and Local Government Units, reinforcing the 7 o’clock toothbrushing habit among Grade 1 pupils, and scaling up the implementation of the Essential Health Care Program (EHCP) in all schools, as directed by DepEd Order No. 65, s. 209.

The EHCP program promotes daily handwashing, daily toothbrushing, and bi-annual deworming of all children, with free provision of soap, toothbrush, toothpaste with fluoride, and deworming medicines to school children.

The practice of oral hygiene should not only be done in school. An orientation among parents can be done so that both parents and teachers can help in preventing dental diseases and promoting oral health for all school children.

Let us be agents of change. Like school children, we can be messengers of good health, too. Let us promote oral health care by practicing the 7 o’clock toothbrushing habit.