The Dental Hygienists Association of Australia sponsors community oral health initiatives ahead of the Dental Health Awareness Week which runs from 6th to 12th August 2018.
Beneficiaries include children attending the Pinoy Community Cultural Class (PCCC) in Central Coast New South Wales as well as listeners of Triple H 100.1FM Radio Tagumpay. PCCC school has just celebrated in April its 5th year of teaching Filipino language and culture to the children on the Central Coast in April 2018. Classes are conducted in two locations – Wadalba Community Public School and Henry Kendall High School. It runs classes twice a week on Fridays and Saturdays. Attendees range from age 6 to 18 years.
The oral health promotion session at PCCC aims to assist parents and carers in creating healthy behaviours towards children as well as provide education to children on the importance of keeping their teeth and mouth healthy. It focuses on ways to a healthy mouth – Eat Well, Drink Well, Clean Well, Stay Well and Play Well concept of the NSW Centre for Oral Health Strategy. The oral health packs to be distributed to participants are funded by DHAA.
Health competition
Radio Tagumpay, on the other hand, is holding an oral health competition beginning on 23rd July to 5th August 12midnight AEST.
The competition is open to all listeners and supporters of community radio Triple H with or without Filipino heritage. Triple H staff, volunteers and their immediate family are not eligible to join. Participants are required to name 3 ways to keep mouth healthy mouth.
Competition entrants need to send their answer and details via email to tripleh100.1fmradiotagumpay@gmail.com or Radio Tagumpay facebook messenger. Details must include name, age, address, mobile or phone details and age group (primary school aged child; child or teen with orthodontic appliance; mother with child aged 0-2 years; mother or carer of a child with special needs; adult; older adult from 70 years of age.
The competition will have 7 winners that are comprised of two primary school-aged children and one winner in each of the other group categories. The winners of the Dental Health Awareness Week competition are selected among the entries via raffle and will also be announced during Radio Tagumpay program on the 6th August 2018.
Prizes will be oral health packs appropriate for use by the 7 winners. A prize pack includes toothpaste, toothbrush, tooth saver box, floss, tooth mirror, toothbrushing timer, stickers, mouth prop, denture cup, denture brush and oral health information sheet courtesy of DHAA. Radio Tagumpay airs on Mondays from 2-4pm and listeners can tune in or stream via http://www.triplehfm.com.au.
DHAA is the association run by dental hygienists and oral health therapists. Dental hygienists are professional, highly-trained dental practitioners who focus on disease prevention, through clinical intervention and education. DHAA offers industry support and advice to all our its members. The association also provides a range of scholarships, funding opportunities and awards to support and recognise achievers amongst its members.
Oral health promotion projects catered to PCCC and Triple H 100.1FM Radio Tagumpay listeners are being managed by Dental Hygienist and oral health educator Jinky Marsh who is a recipient of the 2018 DHAA Community Oral Health Projects and Programs Grant. These Filipino oral health projects are among her several oral health initiatives in various community groups.
Ms Marsh started conducting oral health promotion and education sessions since 2008 including the 2017 mouthguard production and distribution to Philippine National Rugby League TAMARAWS where she was also the national anthem singer in the team’s international matches versus Serbia and Malta. Marsh has worked as a dental hygienist in both public (NSW Health Centre for Education Research on Ageing/ Concord Repatriation and General Hospital and private clinics (suburban and Sydney CBD).
