Publicar

35 - EDUCAÇÃO EM SAÚDE BUCAL: CONHECIMENTOS, PRÁTICAS E DESAFIOS NO AMBIENTE ESCOLAR

Doi: 10.47094/IVCOLUBRASC.2026/RS/35

PALAVRAS CHAVE: Saúde escolar. Promoção da saúde. Educação em saúde.

KEYWORDS: School health. Health promotion. Health education.

ABSTRACT:
Introduction: Promoting oral health in schools is an important public health strategy. In this setting, teachers can act as mediators of learning and as agents for disseminating preventive practices. Objective: To identify perceptions and key challenges related to oral health education in schools. Method: This is a narrative literature review based on scientific articles concerning oral health within the educational context, published between 2020 and 2025. A search in Portuguese was conducted in August 2026 via Google Scholar, using the descriptors “oral health,” “school environment,” “teachers,” and “pedagogical practices,” combined with the Boolean operator “AND.” The selected material was analyzed through critical and interpretive reading, guided by the research objective. Results: The studies indicate that, although teachers and administrators recognize the importance of oral health, addressing it involves pedagogical, structural, and behavioral challenges. Teachers often possess limited knowledge regarding technical and scientific aspects, frequently relying on common-sense notions—particularly concerning dental biofilm and the multifactorial etiology of dental caries. Furthermore, the findings highlight a sense of insecurity regarding dental trauma, a lack of structured routines, a shortage of hygiene supplies, and inadequate facilities for supervised tooth brushing. Final Considerations: Oral health education should be integrated into school practices and the holistic development of students. Strengthening this area requires investment in both initial and continuing teacher education, as well as the inclusion of the topic within the curriculum. Collaboration between schools, families, and primary healthcare services is also essential to ensure technical support and sustained health promotion and prevention initiatives.

Autores

  • Eder Ferreira De Arruda

  • Sônia Alves De Macêdo

Download