Learn to take oral health seriously – Dr Richards

Oral health is precious and we should learn to take it seriously.

With this in mind, the Dental Health Division in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, has been focussing particularly on the dental needs of pre-school and primary school-aged children as they observed the annual National Dental Health Awareness week which ends today, Friday, September, 19, 2025.

One area of particular attention was the need for brushing.

Chief Dental Surgeon, Dr Brandon Richards told SEARCHLIGHT in an exclusive interview that the activities being undertaken by the Division is an outreach to the public in which they bring dental health education awareness to the communities throughout St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“We want to bring to the public’s consciousness the concept of brushing. Brushing to the extent that this is not an activity that is substitutable, that is interchangeable, it is a necessity,” Dr Richards pointed out.

The week is being observed under the theme: “A healthy mouth is the first step towards a healthy body”, and this is one of the messages which was reinforced in the visits to schools.

During the visits on Monday and Tuesday, September 15 and 16, 2025, the various dental teams allowed the children to engage in activities such as learning to brush their teeth properly, as well as flossing.

During the two days visits were made to six pre-schools and six primary schools on the mainland and on Bequia.

Dr Richards explained that it is necessary for people, especially children, to learn about oral health so that they can protect their overall health, and support their growth and development.

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