COPENHAGEN, Denmark: Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have examined the benefits of enhanced oral health promotion combined with a closely supervised toothbrushing programme in schools in southern Thailand. The two-year study aimed to establish an effective model for the fight against the increasing burden of tooth decay among children in Asia.
The research project, which was based on the World Health Organization’s Health-Promoting Schools concept, focused on increasing awareness of the importance of oral health in order to foster a healthy school environment and encourage regular dental care habits in young children, including the use of effective fluoridated toothpaste. Over 24 months, the researchers compared the effects of closely supervised toothbrushing with a toothpaste containing 1,450 ppm fluoride and 1.5% arginine to customary oral hygiene practices in the control group. The study was conducted in the Songkhla province in Thailand and involved 15 schools and 3,706 preschool students, of whom 1,940 were in the intervention group and 1,766 in the control group.
During the course of the study, dental plaque scores significantly improved among the children in the intervention group. According to the researchers, the project achieved a caries reduction of up to 34 per cent for all schools included in the study and a reduction in new carious lesions of up to 41 per cent for the most compliant schools. This points to the positive effect of the use of fluoridated toothpaste administered by schoolteachers via an enhanced school oral health programme.
“This project emphasises the necessity of engaging the school as well as family and schoolteachers,” said lead researcher Prof. Poul Erik Petersen, from the Department for Global Oral Health and Community Dentistry at the university’s School of Dentistry. “Globally, very few school health programmes are evaluated scientifically. This research project has provided sound information and will thus contribute to the promotion of preventive measures in school oral health programmes,” Petersen concluded.
According to Petersen, the experience gained from the study could offer new insight into the global fight against poor oral health in children. Furthermore, he expressed the hope that the research results would assist ministries of health, public health administrators and oral health planners in low- and middle-income countries in Asia in developing evidence-based school health programmes.
In Asia, the number of children suffering pain and discomfort resulting from poor oral health, in addition to missing school lessons, is increasing. High levels of tooth decay in developing countries such as Thailand are primarily related to poor living conditions, the high intake of sugars, poor oral hygiene practices, low exposure to fluoride for disease prevention, as well as limited availability of and accessibility to preventive dental health services.
According to figures of the FDI World Dental Federation, between 60 and 90 per cent of schoolchildren worldwide have caries but the majority of dental decay remains untreated due to inappropriate, unaffordable or unavailable oral health care services.
The study, titled “School-based intervention for improving the oral health of children in southern Thailand”, was published in the March issue of the Community Dental Health journal.
WEINAN, China: Smile Around the World reached its full potential in China in summer 2018 thanks to a collaborative effort between FDI, the Chinese ...
Each year, the FDI World Dental Congress features the World Oral Health Forum (WOHF), an in-depth session meant to spark discussion on the latest topics ...
As oral health takes on growing importance within broader public health strategies, data-driven insights are becoming essential for shaping effective policy...
The common misconception that oral health is not interlinked with overall health is slowly being dispelled by dental professionals who continue to ...
BOGOTÁ, Columbia: In 2017, Dr Kathryn Kell, Iowa dentist and former American Dental Association trustee, was elected President of the FDI World Dental ...
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina: FDI’s World Oral Health Day (WOHD) campaign provides a platform to raise awareness and encourage action in favour of good oral ...
ISTANBUL, Turkey: Prof. Gerry McKenna is a faculty member in the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast, ...
GENEVA, Switzerland: How does oral health affect mental well-being? This World Oral Health Day (WOHD), celebrated globally every year on March 20, FDI World...
The 2025 FDI World Dental Congress (FDIWDC25) will be held in China and is expected to be a groundbreaking event in the field of dentistry. Set against the ...
GENEVA, Switzerland: Every year on 20 March, people around the globe unite to celebrate World Oral Health Day (WOHD) and put the spotlight on the immense ...
Dr. Anna Lella, Ms. Francesca Nava
Mr. James Allison, Prof. Lakshman Samaranayake, Prof. Suhail Al-Amad, Prof. Laurence Walsh A0 BDSc (Hons) (Qld), DDSc (Qld), PhD (Qld), GCEd, FFOP (RCPA), FICD, FADI, FPFA, FIADFE
Dr. Wendy Thompson, Dr. Leanne Teoh
Brazil / Brasil
Canada / Canada
Latin America / Latinoamérica
USA / USA
Austria / Österreich
Bosnia and Herzegovina / Босна и Херцеговина
Bulgaria / България
Croatia / Hrvatska
Czech Republic & Slovakia / Česká republika & Slovensko
France / France
Germany / Deutschland
Greece / ΕΛΛΑΔΑ
Hungary / Hungary
Italy / Italia
Netherlands / Nederland
Nordic / Nordic
Poland / Polska
Portugal / Portugal
Romania & Moldova / România & Moldova
Slovenia / Slovenija
Serbia & Montenegro / Србија и Црна Гора
Spain / España
Switzerland / Schweiz
Turkey / Türkiye
UK & Ireland / UK & Ireland
China / 中国
India / भारत गणराज्य
Japan / 日本
Pakistan / Pākistān
Vietnam / Việt Nam
ASEAN / ASEAN
Israel / מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל
Algeria, Morocco & Tunisia / الجزائر والمغرب وتونس
Middle East / Middle East
Dr. Nina ShaffieRegister now1CELive webinar
Dr. Carla ZogheibRegister now1CELive webinar
Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Reis DDS, MSC, PhD.Register now1CELive webinar
Dr. Edoardo Fossati DDSRegister now1CE:sharpen(level=0):output(format=png)/up/dt/2024/01/ClearCorrect_Logo_Grey_01-2024.png "ClearCorrect")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/09/EAO-Monaco-Experts-present-concept-for-zero-peri-implantitis.jpg "EAO Monaco: Experts present concept for zero peri-implantitis")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/09/Impact-of-time-to-take-centre-stage-at-EAO-Congress-in-Monaco.jpg "Impact of time to take centre stage at the EAO congress in Monaco")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/05/Blending-science-and-masterpieces_1.jpg "EAO congress 2025: Blending science and masterpieces")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/09/Artificial-intelligence-in-prosthodontics-From-concept-to-clinical-reality.jpg "Artificial intelligence in prosthodontics: From concept to clinical reality")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/09/2025-09-17_3Shape-appoints-Dr-Rune-Fisker-as-external-executive-adviser-to-CEO-after-25-years-of-pioneering-innovation.jpg "3Shape appoints Dr Rune Fisker as external executive adviser to CEO")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/07/3dprinting.jpg "3D printing")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/07/aligners.jpg "aligners")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2024/01/ClearCorrect_Logo_Grey_01-2024.png "ClearCorrect"){kind=logo}
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2022/05/osstem_logo.png "Osstem Implant"){kind=logo}
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/05/UnionTech_LOGO.png "UnionTech"){kind=logo}
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2011/11/ITI-LOGO.png "ITI International Team for Implantology"){kind=logo}
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2022/01/Straumann_Logo_neu-.png "Straumann"){kind=logo}
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2019/04/logo.png "exocad"){kind=logo}
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2011/07/fdi.png)
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2017/01/607150a70a591e5035f0dbf244e76ffb.jpg "Tackling poor oral health around the globe")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/wp-content/themes/dt/images/dt-user.gif "Dental Tribune International")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2018/09/Day3and4_SmileAroundtheWorld_credit-Hiromu-Shimada.jpg "In China, Smile Around the World reports successful oral health education workshops")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2018/08/guys2.jpg "In-depth look at oral health and healthy ageing during 2018 World Oral Health Forum")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/09/The-Oral-Health-Observatory-has-been-a-goldmine-of-insights-for-China_header.jpg "“The Oral Health Observatory has been a goldmine of insights for China”")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2023/09/Historically-oral-health-has-been-separated-from-the-rest-of-health-.jpg "“Historically, oral health has been separated from the rest of health”")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2018/08/Grupo-LARO2-1188-x-668.jpg "Global health policies must include oral health")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2018/09/FDI_WDC_18-Buenos_Aires-20180907-050.jpg "Pledge to “Act on Mouth Health” at the 2019 World Oral Health Day official launch")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2024/08/The-oral-health-needs-of-older-adults-have-changed-considerably-in-the-last-years-2.jpg "“The oral health needs of older adults have changed considerably in the last years”")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/03/A-happy-mouth-is-a-happy-mind-FDI-highlights-the-link-between-oral-and-mental-health-with-a-new-song-1.jpg "“A happy mouth is a happy mind”: FDI highlights the link between oral and mental health with a new song")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2024/09/Shaping-the-future-of-oral-health-A-sneak-peek-at-FDIWDC25-in-Shanghai-.jpg "Shaping the future of oral health: A sneak peek at FDIWDC25 in Shanghai")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2023/02/FDI-celebrates-World-Oral-Health-Day.jpg "FDI celebrates World Oral Health Day")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/09/Uniting-for-FDIs-Vision-2030.jpg "Uniting for FDI’s Vision 2030")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/09/FDI-World-Dental-Congress-2026-Reuniting-the-global-dental-community-in-historic-Prague.jpg "FDI World Dental Congress 2026: Reuniting the global dental community in historic Prague")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/09/FDIWDC25_3_Session-Sugar.jpg "“Reducing sugar consumption is a complex, cross-sectoral task”")
To post a reply please login or register