Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH — The Makkah Smile, an oral hygiene initiative that targets 3,000 elementary male and female students, kicked off at Hasan Al-Basari Boys School in the holy city recently.

The launching event was attended by Dr. Muhammad Al-Harthy, deputy dean of Dentistry College, Umm Al-Qura University; Badr Abdullah Al-Maqati, acting deputy director of Makkah Health Affairs; as well as Muhammad Al-Harthy, assistant director of Makkah Education Office.

The initiative focuses on educating students about the importance of oral hygiene and keep their teeth clean. Mobile clinics will visit various schools and raise students' awareness about this important issue.

"The initiative will continue for the entire semester and cover the largest number of students possible. The students should understand that it is important to keep their mouth and teeth clean all the time," Al-Maqati said.

The initiative comes in line with the Makkah Education Office's policies seeking to educate students about the importance of cleaning their teeth all the time as oral hygiene plays a pivotal role in enhancing one's overall health.

Muhammad Al-Harthy said the students will have their teeth examined during the campaign while fluoride sessions will be organized to help students deal with any tooth decay or gum disease.

"We will also conduct a study on the prevalence of tooth decay and gum diseases among male and female students in schools. We will examine 3,000 students this year," he said.