Where There Is No Dentist 2012 13
FINDING THE BEST WAY TO TEACH
Deciding what to teach is important, but just as important is how to teach.
Learning cannot take place
when you use words that
people do not understand.
They will learn something
only when they see how it
is related to their lives.
Remember this when you teach about eating good food and keeping teeth
clean. Design your own health messages, but be ready to change them if
people are not understanding or accepting what you say.
Here are five suggestions for teaching well.
1. Learn First From the People
Get involved in your community’s activities. Learn about people’s
problems, and then offer to help solve them. People will listen to you
when they know that you care about them and want to help.
Sit and talk with people. Learn
about their customs, traditions
and beliefs. Respect them.
Learn about their health habits.
Improving health may require
changing some habits and
strengthening others.
Learn also about tooth
decay and gum disease in
your community.
Make people smile—then look into their mouths.
Find out how many children and adults are having
problems with their teeth and gums. Do a survey
such as the one on page 220.