Members of the NCADS (Northern Cyprus Association of Dental Students), together with 5th grade students, visited the Cyprus Turkish Child Protection Institution and spent time with the children. As part of the visit, oral hygiene education was provided, and informative presentations were delivered on foods that are beneficial and harmful to dental health. In addition, team members read children’s books they had written themselves, creating an enjoyable and engaging atmosphere for the children.
The visit was designed to support disadvantaged people, aiming to improve health awareness and preventive care among vulnerable groups. During the visit, children received age-appropriate and engaging oral hygiene education, emphasizing the importance of daily toothbrushing, oral care routines, and regular dental check-ups as essential components of lifelong health.
In addition to oral hygiene practices, the NCADS team delivered interactive presentations on nutrition and dental health, clearly explaining which foods support healthy teeth and which may increase the risk of dental caries. These sessions were intentionally structured to be accessible, visual, and participatory, ensuring that complex health information could be easily understood by children from diverse backgrounds.
A distinctive element of the visit was the use of educational play as a learning tool. Two interactive games were organized with enthusiastic participation:a true–false oral hygiene game, reinforcing correct daily practices, and a matching game classifying foods as “tooth-friendly” or “tooth-harming”, encouraging children to make informed dietary choices.
Beyond structured education, NCADS team members also read aloud from children’s books they had authored themselves, creating a warm, supportive atmosphere and strengthening emotional engagement. This approach not only enhanced health literacy but also contributed to the children’s psychosocial well-being by fostering trust, enjoyment, and a sense of being valued.
The visit highlighted the role of preventive oral health education as a tool for reducing health inequalities, particularly among disadvantaged children who may face barriers to regular dental care. By combining evidence-based health information with interactive learning and emotional connection, the initiative aligned strongly with the principles of inclusive health promotion embedded in SDG 3.
The NCADS team expressed their gratitude to Dila Özyılkan Sakallı for her academic and educational contributions, and to Güney Yılmaz for his support throughout the organization process.
Concluding the visit, the NCADS team shared a message that encapsulated the spirit of the initiative: “Being able to touch a child’s smile is our greatest motivation.” This visit stands as a strong example of active health promotion for disadvantaged groups, demonstrating how universities can translate academic expertise into tangible social impact in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Special thanks were extended to Assist. Prof. Dr. Dila Özyılkan Sakallı for her contributions to the event, and to Prof. Dr. Güney Yılmaz for his support during the organization process. The NCADS team concluded the visit with the message: “Being able to touch a child’s smile is our greatest motivation.”
