Efforts to improve oral health in Rwanda are shifting to schools, with Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) saying early adoption of hygiene habits can help prevent severe dental conditions that often lead to tooth extraction.

The announcement was highlighted during the celebrations of World Oral Health Day held at GS Bumbogo in Gasabo District on Friday, March 27.

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Irenee Bagahirwa, Director of the Injuries and Disabilities Unit in Non-Communicable Diseases Division at RBC, said instilling proper oral hygiene practices at a young age is essential.

"When these practices are taught to children early, they grow up with that culture and sustain it,” she said.

She noted that oral diseases are more prevalent among children, although many cases can be prevented through proper hygiene.

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Bagahirwa added that dental cases remain among the top 20 non-hospitalised conditions reported in health facilities. While this indicates a high burden, she said it also reflects improved access to treatment.

Citing recent findings from programmes implemented by Dental Health Without Borders in partnership with SOS Children's Villages Rwanda, she highlighted significant progress in schools where oral health interventions were introduced.

The studies show that the prevalence of tooth decay among children dropped sharply from 45 per cent to 16 per cent, while cases of severe dental pain fell from 44 per cent to 7 per cent.

School attendance also improved, with absenteeism decreasing by more than half, and academic performance rising by 25 per cent between 2015 and 2017.

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Fabrice Niyibizi, the president of Rwanda Dental Association, said one of the biggest challenges is that many patients seek care too late.

"Most of those who come for treatment are already at a stage where the only solution is to remove the tooth,” he said.

He stressed that teeth are strong organs that can last a lifetime if properly cared for, but warned that neglect allows decay to progress slowly until it causes severe pain and complications.

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Niyibizi urged the public to brush their teeth at least twice a day, in the morning and at night, noting that poor habits, especially high sugar consumption, accelerate tooth decay.

He also pointed to cases where children lose teeth at a very young age due to decay, which can lead to misalignment of permanent teeth and further health complications, including poor digestion caused by inadequate chewing.

The Minister of State for Education, Claudette Irere, said schools provide an effective platform to promote oral health nationwide.

She noted that out of Rwanda’s 13 million population, about 5 million are students, making schools a strategic entry point for behaviour change.

Irere linked oral hygiene efforts to the government’s school feeding programme, which has been expanded through investment in infrastructure, equipment, and meal subsidies in public and government-supported schools.

She said the programme not only improves student concentration and academic performance but also creates an opportunity to promote hygiene practices alongside nutrition.

"As students eat at school, we should not forget that they must also take care of their oral health,” she said.

Irere emphasised that brushing teeth should be a daily routine rather than an occasional practice, recommending that students brush at least three times a day, after breakfast, after meals at school, and before bedtime.

She called on schools, local leaders, parents, and teachers to reinforce oral hygiene habits both at school and at home.

"What is taught at school should also be practiced at home so that we raise children who are healthy and disciplined in hygiene,” she said.