This Is Public Health
October 2011: East Tennessee Students Teach Children about Flossing
This summer, East Tennessee State University College of Public Health DrPH students and Frist Global Health Leader scholarship recipients, Ms. Twanda Wadlington and Ms. Megan Quinn, worked with a local NGO in Munsieville, South Africa called Lagae La Bana (Home for the Children). The organization focuses on servicing orphaned and vulnerable children with daily meals and social support throughout the year.
Ms. Wadlington and Ms. Quinn worked with the students on a variety of programs, one of which focused on basic hygiene techniques such as oral health and hand washing. Ms. Wadlington led the oral health education of the session, while Ms. Quinn led the hand washing education.
During the oral health session the children learned the proper method of brushing their teeth in a circular motion, brushing the tongue, and the proper method of flossing. Most of the group had never seen or used floss before; so this was a new, yet exciting experience for them. To conclude the oral health education, Ms. Wadlington asked the group, “What happens if you do not brush your teeth on a regular basis?” The children responded with tooth decay, bad breath, plaque build-up, and diseases. They then discussed the types of diseases that occur from bad oral hygiene, such as gingivitis and bleeding of the gums. The oral health education ended with questioning from the students, ranging from sharing toothbrushes to the proper time to change a toothbrush. Each participant was given toothbrushes donated by the Thoughtful Path: Munsieville.
Photo submitted by Ms. Twanda Wadlington and Ms. Megan Quinn.
For more information about the Friday Letter Photo of the Month contest, visit www.whatispublichealth.org/photogallery.html.
October 2011: East Tennessee Students Teach Children about Flossing
This summer, East Tennessee State University College of Public Health DrPH students and Frist Global Health Leader scholarship recipients, Ms. Twanda Wadlington and Ms. Megan Quinn, worked with a local NGO in Munsieville, South Africa called Lagae La Bana (Home for the Children). The organization focuses on servicing orphaned and vulnerable children with daily meals and social support throughout the year.
Ms. Wadlington and Ms. Quinn worked with the students on a variety of programs, one of which focused on basic hygiene techniques such as oral health and hand washing. Ms. Wadlington led the oral health education of the session, while Ms. Quinn led the hand washing education.
During the oral health session the children learned the proper method of brushing their teeth in a circular motion, brushing the tongue, and the proper method of flossing. Most of the group had never seen or used floss before; so this was a new, yet exciting experience for them. To conclude the oral health education, Ms. Wadlington asked the group, “What happens if you do not brush your teeth on a regular basis?” The children responded with tooth decay, bad breath, plaque build-up, and diseases. They then discussed the types of diseases that occur from bad oral hygiene, such as gingivitis and bleeding of the gums. The oral health education ended with questioning from the students, ranging from sharing toothbrushes to the proper time to change a toothbrush. Each participant was given toothbrushes donated by the Thoughtful Path: Munsieville.
Photo submitted by Ms. Twanda Wadlington and Ms. Megan Quinn.
For more information about the Friday Letter Photo of the Month contest, visit www.whatispublichealth.org/photogallery.html.