Supervised Toothbrushing and Oral Health Education in Primary Schools in Saudi Arabia

In supervised toothbrushing intervention, dental hygienists trained school staff, obtained consent forms, distributed the oral hygiene kits, and provided support and advice if needed. Teachers' training included guidelines for infection prevention and control, and toothbrushing in dry areas adapted from the Public Health England (PHD) toothbrushing programme toolkit. A dry toothbrushing model was employed. Toothbrushing sessions took place daily during regular school hours for one academic year. Each session lasted for approximately 10 minutes and occured after break time at 9:20 am. Oral hygiene kits that include soft toothbrushes and 1450ppm fluoridated toothpaste were disseminated every three months. Teachers and dental hygienists provided monthly oral health educational sessions to students during regular school time.

In oral health education intervention, dental hygienists and school staff collaborated to educate students about oral health. Dental hygienists trained school staff to deliver this programme effectively and offer continued support and guidance to school staff during the programme implementation. An oral health education toolkit partly adapted from the PHE toothbrushing programme toolkit was provided to the school before the start of the programme. Educational materials including lectures, leaflets, and activities were dispensed monthly. Oral health education was conducted once a month during regular school hours in the classroom, and each session lasted for one hour. Students were provided with comprehensive knowledge about oral health, such as proper toothbrushing techniques, the importance of routine dental check-ups, and healthy nutrition. Moreover, toothbrushing kits that include soft toothbrushes and 1450ppm fluoridated toothpaste were distributed every three months.