Strategi Badut Gigi untuk Tingkatkan Keterampilan Menyikat Gigi Anak TK Al Fath Kota Jambi

Abstract

The high prevalence of dental caries among early childhood in Indonesia, reaching 84.8% in children aged 5-9 years, highlights the need for effective interventions to improve proper tooth brushing behavior. This Community Partnership Program aimed to enhance the tooth brushing skills of children at TK Alam Al Fath Pasir Putih, Jambi City, using "Badut Gigi" (Tooth Clown) as an educational tool through counseling and demonstration methods. The activity, held on September 1, 2025, involved a community service team from the Department of Dental Health and student volunteers. The tooth brushing skills of 10 participants were assessed before and after the intervention. The results showed a significant improvement; before the intervention, 16.7% of children were in the low-skill category and 83.3% in the medium category, with none in the high-skill category. However, after the educational session with the Tooth Clown, 100% of the participants achieved a high skill level. This outcome demonstrates that using interactive and enjoyable educational media like the Tooth Clown is highly effective in changing behavior and improving children's tooth brushing skills, thereby contributing to a reduction in dental health issues among early childhood populations.