Healthy Teeth in Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands

The Closing the Gap through Oral Hygiene and Language in Remote Australia Project teaches dental health practices in language with the aim of tackling inequities in dental health outcomes for First Nations people whilst strengthening languages.

Better oral health outcomes are directly tied to the use of First Nations languages in community health interactions. First Nations people are less likely to receive preventative dental care and are more likely than non-Indigenous Australians to have multiple cavities and untreated dental disease. Rates of oral health problems increases with remoteness for First Nations children.

The Mobile Language Team (MLT) of the University of Adelaide, in partnership with the Dental Hygienists Association of Australia and Nganampa Health Council, created the Closing the Gap through Oral Hygiene and Language in Remote South Australia Project to tackle this inequity. This strong collaboration was foundational to the project’s success.

The project engaged First Nations children in fun learning activities that reinforced language related to oral hygiene in wangka (language). Participants used Yankunytjatjara terms to talk about brushing their teeth (kaṯiṯi paltjini), rotten teeth (kaṯiṯi kuya-kuya), good teeth (kaṯiṯi palya), and toothpaste (kaṯiṯiku latja). The integration of Yankunytjatjara into oral hygiene practices helps slow and reverse language attrition in strong language communities and fosters a sense of ownership, belonging, and pride in maintaining good oral health.

"Kids were fully engaged with these workshops and activities. This project was designed for Aṉangu tjitji tjuṯa (Aṉangu kids) in their wangka (language), within their tjanampa ngura (community), and was delivered by their walytja tjuṯa (family)” - said MLT Yankunytjatjara Senior Aboriginal Language Worker Karina Lester.

Activities were delivered in collaboration with the Indulkana and Mimili communities, with more than 180 people participating in Katiti Wiru (Healthy Teeth) games and actively participating in Mai Wiru (Healthy Eating) activities. Strong relationships were built between organisers and community. When organisers returned to Indulkana after an absence, participants remembered the project team as ‘Katitiku Ninti Tjuta’ (the “teeth people”).

Incorporating language with community engagement, messaging and outreach improved oral health speech and literacy and effectively extended the use of a First Nations language into a new domain – talking about oral hygiene. This strengthens both the health and wellbeing of people and languages, supporting Priority Reform One and Target 16.

Find out more about this program through the Mobile Language team at the University of Adelaide.

Image: ‘healthy teeth”