The Oral hygiene day was introduced to commemorate the birth anniversary of the doyen of Indian Periodontics and founder of the Indian Society of Periodontology (ISP), Dr G B Shankwalkar, who was born on 1st August.
Every year on 1st of August, various programmes are conducted the Indian Society of Periodontology(ISP), Indian Dental Association(IDA) along with its state branches, Rotary club, private institutes and many dental colleges across India.
Objective of Oral Hygiene Day:
This day is celebrated with the objective to spread the message of Oral health and its importance and to curb the worrisome trend of neglect which has been one of the main causes for dental diseases.
Every year this day is celebrated by organizing various camps, creating oral health awareness in rural areas, distributing oral hygiene kits to the underpriviliged population.
Some institutes also carry out free periodontal treatments for patients on this day.
About Dr G B Shankwalkar,
- He was the first post-graduate teacher in a country to start M.D.S. course in Periodontics at the University of Bombay.
- Guest of honor at the 10th Arab Dental congress held at Baghdad March 1980.
- Chairman of scientific sessions at Indian Dental Conference on 9 occasions.
- Co-advisor, W.H.O. seminar on public health dentistry at Lucknow 1975
- Chairman of 1st International Dental Conference held at Bombay – 1980.
These are only few of his achievements. He was a great visionary and a true legend in the field of dentistry.
As a Dentist, it’s OUR responsibility to educate your patients and provide all the facts.
On this oral hygiene day, here are a few patient education strategies that may be helpful for you to properly educate your patient, in the language that He understands!
- Ditch the medical jargon.
- Provide relatable examples.
- Set aside time for discussion and invite questions.
- Appeal to a patient’s emotions.
- Be completely transparent.
- Display educational collateral around the office.
- Send patients home with pictures and educational brochures.
Do you have any patient education ideas or tips that work for you? Please be generous and share by leaving a comment below
Turn awareness into measurable daily behaviour
An awareness day creates value only when it leads to sustained habits and access to care. Advice should be personalised for age, dexterity, caries risk, periodontal condition, appliances, implants and caregiver support.
| Action | Purpose | Personalisation |
|---|---|---|
| Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste | Disrupt plaque and prevent caries | Age-appropriate amount and supervision |
| Clean interdental spaces | Reach surfaces a brush may miss | Choose brush, floss or aid to fit anatomy |
| Limit frequent free-sugar exposure | Reduce cariogenic challenges | Review timing and hidden sources |
| Attend risk-based reviews | Detect disease and reinforce prevention | Recall interval is not identical for everyone |
Understand a periodontal sign in the bleeding-on-probing guide. Compare brush design claims in the Triple Bristle review. Whitening-product evidence is examined in the peroxide versus charcoal mouthwash study.
Frequently asked questions
Is brushing harder more effective?
No. Effective technique and coverage matter; excessive force may injure soft tissues and contribute to abrasion.
Does everyone need the same interdental aid?
No. Contact tightness, embrasure size, periodontal status and dexterity influence selection.
How often should dental check-ups occur?
Use a clinician-determined, risk-based interval rather than one universal schedule.
