Residents urged to adopt better oral hygiene practices following rise in cases of tooth decay in the community

4 May 2026, 6:48 pm

By Geoffrey Okwong

Residents have been urged to adopt better oral hygiene practices following a rise in cases of tooth decay in the community.

Dr. Grace Ainembabazi, a dental professional with Hope Smiles Uganda, made the call during a dental outreach at Pader Health Centre III, where free services are being offered for four days starting today.

She noted that the outreach is part of ongoing efforts to improve access to dental care, especially in underserved areas.

Dr. Ainembabazi identified dental caries (tooth decay) as the biggest challenge affecting many communities, attributing it to high sugar consumption and poor oral hygiene.

According to her, the prevalence of tooth decay in Northern Uganda remains high, with many patients only seeking treatment when the condition has worsened.

She encouraged residents to go for regular dental check-ups, even when they are not experiencing pain.

Dr. Ainembabazi also emphasized the need to reduce sugar intake, especially among children, and to maintain proper oral hygiene.

She noted that turnout on the first day was moderate, possibly due to the busy nature of town life, but expressed optimism that more residents would attend in the coming days.

Normal Adong, a resident of Mila in Paiula Sub-county, applauded Hope Smiles Uganda for bringing much-needed services closer to the community.

Adong, who brought her mother for treatment due to persistent tooth pain, also received dental care after discovering she had a cavity that required filling.

She called on other residents experiencing dental problems to take advantage of the free services.

Adong added that she learned about the outreach through a friend, which prompted her to seek care for both herself and her mother.

By 2:00 PM on the first day of the dental camp, at least 72 patients had received various services at Pader Health Centre III.