Langit cerah menyelimuti Taman Victoria Park pada Minggu, 3 November 2024. Para buruh migran Indonesia (BMI) tampak menikmati waktu libur mereka dengan berbagai aktivitas, mulai dari duduk santai di atas tikar hingga bersantai di dalam tenda yang tertata rapi di taman.
Taman ini memang dikenal sebagai tempat berkumpulnya BMI di Hong Kong setiap minggu, dengan beragam kegiatan seperti pengajian, menari, karate, bermain musik, hingga seminar. Udara segar, semilir angin, dan pepohonan rindang di tengah gedung pencakar langit menciptakan suasana nyaman meskipun sinar matahari cukup terik.
Salah satu kegiatan menarik hari itu adalah seminar bertema “Senam Mulut (Oral Exercise) untuk Meningkatkan Fungsi Oral & Kesehatan Gigi Menuju Kualitas Hidup yang Lebih Baik.” Seminar ini merupakan kolaborasi antara Dosen FKG Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), PCIA Hong Kong, dan SaranMu Hong Kong.
Hadir sebagai narasumber Dr. drg. Sri Utami, MPH (Sekretaris Prodi KG UMY) dan Dr. drg. Novitasari Ratna Astuti, MPH (Dosen Prodi KG UMY), didampingi sepuluh mahasiswa Fakultas Kedokteran Gigi UMY yang sedang mengikuti Student Elective Program (SEP) di Faculty of Dentistry, Hong Kong University (HKU).
Dengan tikar sederhana di bawah rindangnya pepohonan, antusiasme peserta sangat terlihat. Dr. drg. Novitasari memulai sesi pertama dengan memberikan praktik langsung senam mulut, yang terdiri dari:
Pemanasan
- Latihan Pernapasan: Menarik napas dalam-dalam melalui hidung, lalu mengembuskan melalui mulut (5 kali).
- Latihan Leher: Mengangguk, menengadah, memiringkan kepala ke kanan dan kiri (masing-masing 5 kali).
- Latihan Pundak: Mengangkat dan menurunkan pundak (5 kali).
Latihan Otot Wajah
- Membuka dan menutup mulut dengan lebar (5 kali).
- Menggembungkan pipi, menggerakkannya ke kanan dan kiri (5 kali).
- Mengucapkan huruf “I” dan “U” dengan kuat (5 kali).
Latihan Lidah
- Menjulurkan lidah sejauh mungkin, menahannya, serta menggerakkan ke kanan, kiri, atas, dan bawah (5 kali).
- Memutar lidah mengelilingi bibir (5 kali).
Pemijatan Kelenjar Ludah
- Parotis: Memijat pipi dekat gigi geraham atas dengan gerakan memutar (10 kali).
- Sublingual: Menekan area di bawah dagu secara perlahan (10 kali).
- Submandibular: Menekan bagian dalam rahang bawah hingga ke ujung dagu (10 kali).
Latihan Pengucapan
- Mengucapkan kata-kata seperti “PA,” “TA,” “KA,” dan “RA” dengan suara nyaring (3 kali).
Pendinginan
- Latihan pernapasan, peregangan leher, dan pundak seperti pada pemanasan.
Dr. drg. Novitasari juga menjelaskan cara menyikat gigi dengan baik:
- Gunakan sikat gigi bertangkai lurus dengan bulu sikat halus.
- Oleskan pasta gigi sebesar biji jagung.
- Sikat permukaan gigi dari arah gusi ke gigi dengan gerakan mencungkil.
- Bersihkan permukaan kunyah dengan gerakan maju-mundur.
- Gunakan benang gigi untuk sela-sela gigi.
Pada sesi kedua, Dr. drg. Sri Utami memimpin diskusi interaktif. Beliau menjelaskan berbagai penyebab gigi goyah, seperti infeksi, karang gigi, dan penyakit diabetes. Solusinya, BMI disarankan untuk rutin memeriksakan gigi setiap enam bulan sekali.
Para peserta juga mendapat kesempatan berkonsultasi langsung terkait masalah gigi mereka. Semua pertanyaan dijawab dengan jelas, memberikan wawasan baru yang sangat berharga di tengah kesibukan kerja sehari-hari.
Seminar ini bertujuan meningkatkan kesadaran BMI terhadap kesehatan gigi, yang sering terabaikan seiring bertambahnya usia. Kegiatan diakhiri dengan pembagian suvenir, door prize, dan foto bersama, meninggalkan kesan mendalam bagi para peserta. []
From Oral Exercises to Healthy Teeth Tips: Productive Holidays for Hong Kong Migrant Workers in Victoria Park
The bright sky covered Victoria Park on Sunday, November 3, 2024. Indonesian migrant workers (BMI) seemed to enjoy their holiday with various activities, from sitting on mats to relaxing in tents neatly arranged in the park.
This park is indeed known as a gathering place for BMI in Hong Kong every week, with various activities such as religious studies, dancing, karate, playing music, and seminars. Fresh air, gentle breeze, and shady trees amidst skyscrapers created a comfortable atmosphere even though the sun was quite hot.
One of the interesting activities that day was a seminar with the theme “Oral Exercises to Improve Oral Function & Dental Health Towards a Better Quality of Life.” This seminar was a collaboration between Lecturers from the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), PCIA Hong Kong, and SaranMu Hong Kong.
Present as a resource person was Dr. drg. Sri Utami, MPH (Secretary of the UMY Dentistry Study Program) and Dr. drg. Novitasari Ratna Astuti, MPH (Lecturer of the UMY Dentistry Study Program), accompanied by ten students of the UMY Faculty of Dentistry who are taking the Student Elective Program (SEP) at the Faculty of Dentistry, Hong Kong University (HKU).
With a simple mat under the shade of the trees, the enthusiasm of the participants was very visible. Dr. drg. Novitasari started the first session by providing direct oral gymnastics practice, which consisted of:
Warm-up
- Breathing Exercise: Take a deep breath through your nose, then exhale through your mouth (5 times).
- Neck Exercise: Nod, look up, tilt your head to the right and left (5 times each).
- Shoulder Exercise: Lift and lower your shoulders (5 times).
Facial Muscle Exercise
- Open and close your mouth wide (5 times).
- Puff out your cheeks, moving them to the right and left (5 times).
- Say the letters “I” and “U” loudly (5 times).
Tongue Exercise
- Stick out your tongue as far as possible, hold it, and move it to the right, left, up, and down (5 times).
- Rotate your tongue around your lips (5 times).
Salivary Gland Massage
- Parotid: Massage your cheeks near your upper molars in a circular motion (10 times).
- Sublingual: Gently press the area under your chin (10 times).
- Submandibular: Press the inside of your lower jaw to the tip of your chin (10 times).
Pronunciation Exercise
- Say words like “PA,” “TA,” “KA,” and “RA” out loud (3 times).
Cooling Down
- Breathing exercises, neck and shoulder stretches as in warming up.
Dr. drg. Novitasari also explained how to brush your teeth properly:
- Use a straight-handled toothbrush with soft bristles.
- Apply a corn kernel-sized amount of toothpaste.
- Brush the surface of the teeth from the gums to the teeth with a plucking motion.
- Clean the chewing surface with a back and forth motion.
- Use dental floss for between the teeth.
In the second session, Dr. drg. Sri Utami led an interactive discussion. She explained the various causes of loose teeth, such as infection, tartar, and diabetes. The solution is that BMI is advised to have their teeth checked regularly every six months.
Participants also had the opportunity to consult directly regarding their dental problems. All questions were answered clearly, providing valuable new insights amidst the daily workload.
This seminar aims to increase BMI awareness of dental health, which is often neglected as they age. The activity ended with the distribution of souvenirs, door prizes, and group photos, leaving a deep impression on the participants. []