National Children's Day: Dental Health Education for Disabled Students Public Transportation Users

Dental health education to special needs students on the Jabodebek LRT in the context of National Children's Day. (Special)

JAKARTA - The 2026 National Children's Day commemoration was used by drg. Ambar Puspitasari Sp.KGA to invite dozens of disabled students to learn how to maintain dental and oral health through direct experience while using public transportation.

Dental health education was carried out for 50 disabled students and their companions while on the way from Halim Station to Jatimulya Station.

This activity was held in conjunction with the 2026 Children's Day with the theme "Love Children, Protect and Build the Future" and was attended by students from SLB B Negeri 11 Jakarta, SLB B Pangudi Luhur School, SLB B Negeri 3 Jakarta, and SLB B Santi Rama Fatmawati Jakarta.

During the trip, the children were invited to learn the importance of maintaining dental and oral health through the delivery of interactive materials on how to brush teeth so that the learning atmosphere feels more enjoyable.

Children were also given the opportunity to demonstrate how to brush their teeth correctly using a phantom tooth. In this activity, drg Ambar was assisted by drg Dini Larasati who is a functional dentist for LRT Jabodebek.

According to drg. Ambar Puspitasari Sp.KGA, who is a teaching staff of pediatric dentistry at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Brawijaya Malang, the habit of maintaining dental and oral hygiene needs to be instilled from an early age, including for children with disabilities, with a learning method that is easy to understand and fun.

"Children will find it easier to understand the material when learning through fun experiences. Dental and oral health education does not always have to be done in the classroom. Traveling using public transportation can also be an interactive learning medium so that messages about the importance of maintaining oral and dental hygiene are easier to accept," said drg. Ambar.

In addition, participants are invited to implement simple steps to maintain dental health, including brushing twice a day after breakfast and before bed, eating nutritious foods, reducing sweet and sticky foods, and having dental health checked regularly every six months.

After the journey using public transportation, namely the Jabodebek LRT, the activities were then continued with dental and oral health education through an online session with several teaching staff of the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Brawijaya Malang, namely drg. Diena Fuadiyah, M.Si, drg. Neny Roeswahjuni, Sp.Ort, drg. Edina Hartami, Sp.KGA, and drg. Amaliyah Nur Irianti, MdSc, Sp.KGA.

Through Zoom Meeting, the dentists shared knowledge about children's dental health, including the causes of tooth decay (caries) which are sweet and sticky foods, bacteria in the oral cavity that can convert sugar into acidic substances, the condition and environment of the oral cavity and the structure of the tooth enamel, and the length of time between food debris that sticks to the teeth that is not immediately cleaned.

These four factors are triggers of tooth decay, which begins in the enamel of the teeth and the infection process can continue to the root of the teeth and cause pain even accompanied by swelling in the gums. In addition to tooth decay, bad habits in children can affect tooth growth, such as sucking on the thumb, biting the lips or nails, breathing through the mouth to the habit of grinding teeth while sleeping (bruxism).

The impact of this bad habit includes tooth decay, crowded teeth, broken nails, the roof of the mouth becomes deep and even pain in the jaw joints.

In order for children to have healthy teeth, in addition to brushing their teeth regularly, children need to limit sweet and sticky foods, always consume healthy and fibrous foods, and regularly see a dentist every 6 months.

Healthy teeth and mouth will help the function of chewing well so that it increases the intake of nutrients into the body and supports optimal child growth and development.

Through collaboration between health workers, the education world, and public transportation as the location for holding activities, the 2026 National Children's Day celebration can be a travel experience and knowledge that children can apply in their daily lives.