We had an amazing educational visit from Queen Mary University, who came to educate our students about the importance of dental health.

The session was incredibly engaging, with many examples linking to each student's daily activities. One of the sessions with Year 4, was led by university student Mathura.

She provided the children with incredible knowledge on how to prevent cavities and the science which causes it.

During the workshop, the students learned about fluoride and how it can help protect their teeth. Mathura explained how rinsing after brushing removes its protective properties because it creates a layer over your teeth. This makes them stronger and more resistant to decay.

A Year 4 student asked, “When do I use mouthwash?” and Mathura explained its best to use at a different part of the day to not interfere with the magic of fluoride.

Using hands-on images Mathura explained the damage highly sugar-containing drinks such as Coke or Pepsi can have on your teeth. They learned one sugar cube is equivalent to 4 grams of sugar and used the contents on the outside of different well-known fizzy drinks to calculate how many cubes were inside.

This exercise helped them understand how sugar is overly used in many drinks they consume as well as excess sugar feeding bacteria in their mouth, leading to tooth decay.

As Mathura went around the class, each student shared something they had learned to earn a sticker. Some of their responses included:

“I can avoid plaque in my mouth by brushing my teeth.” Or “I need to go to the dentist at least twice a year, every six months.”

This workshop aligns perfectly with the school’s values. It fosters aspiration by encouraging students to take responsibility for their oral health, and community by reinforcing the importance of shared knowledge and well-being.

Through partnerships like this, students gain lifelong skills that benefit both themselves and those around them.