<![CDATA[Unhealthy diets, excessive consumption of sweet foods, and low knowledge and practice of dental and oral hygiene are significant factors contributing to the high incidence of dental caries in children. These conditions affect dental aesthetics, social interactions, well-being, and quality of life, underscoring the importance of dental health education. This community service project aims to analyze, evaluate, and improve students' knowledge and practice of proper toothbrushing through participatory learning-based community service activities. The community service activities include providing information, conducting demonstrations, facilitating discussions, and providing direct toothbrushing practice. The subjects of this study were students of Mekarjaya I Elementary School. The participants included all students who took part in the community service activities. Data collection methods included pre- and post-tests using a dental health knowledge questionnaire and a toothbrushing practice observation sheet. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive quantitative methods to observe changes in knowledge levels and qualitative methods to evaluate the process and participants' responses to the activities. The results showed that the learning activities and participatory actions increased students' dental health knowledge and improved their toothbrushing techniques, in line with the activities' main objectives. In general, this community service helped build students' awareness and practical skills in maintaining dental and oral health. Direct practice-based dental health education has the potential to be an effective promotive and preventive strategy in improving the quality of life of children from an early age.]]>
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