Toothie’s guide to a healthy smile

As part of the celebration of World Oral Health Day 2026, the Association of Dental Students – University of Khartoum (ADSUK), in collaboration with Dentaid, a student-led initiative dedicated to promoting oral health awareness, education, and preventive care through impactful community-based activities, particularly for displaced and war-affected Sudanese communities, implemented a comprehensive awareness campaign focused on promoting oral health as an essential component of overall health and wellbeing, in alignment with the 2026 World Oral Health Day theme, “Happy Mouth, Happy Life.”

The campaign aimed to engage different audiences through diverse and interactive methods of awareness and communication. Through educational posters, awareness videos, social media engagement, and discussion-based activities, we sought to deliver oral health messages in accessible and relatable ways while encouraging active community participation.

The campaign included “Toothies Diary,” a series tailored to different stages of life in recognition of this year’s theme, with content and oral health tips specifically designed to suit each targeted age group. In addition, a campaign video was created to highlight the connection between oral health, overall wellbeing, and quality of life. The campaign also featured “The Smile Post,” a collective initiative that encouraged participants to share their smiles as a way of spreading positivity and engagement within the community.

Building on these awareness efforts, the World Oral Health Day Summit 2026 was organized to create space for deeper conversations around oral health, quality of life, and challenges related to access to care in conflict and humanitarian settings. The summit brought together speakers and participants from different backgrounds and countries, promoting interdisciplinary discussions and highlighting the importance of integrating oral health into broader healthcare systems and public health perspectives. Approximately 300 participants registered for the summit, attracting a diverse audience from different countries, including members of the International Association of Dental Students (IADS).

Through this campaign, ADSUK aimed to transform global oral health initiatives into meaningful community impact by combining awareness, advocacy, engagement, and education in a way that was interactive, inclusive, and socially relevant.