Although tooth decay is an buccal health problem very frequent during childhood but there are means to prevent it and educate. Several oral health programmes have been carried out, but most of them are restricted to thematic lectures without problematizing the theme. The necessity to systematize indicators able to subsidize oral health educational projects motivated this study, the main purpose being to know the buccal health conceptions and hygiene habits of the students. The research involved children from first to fourth grades of primary municipal schools of Bauru by means of structured interviews and questionnaires with closed questions. A sample of 80 students was chosen randomly and studied. The results showed that 63.75% of the children have already had tooth ache and the cares mentioned by them were bushing the teeth, going to the dentist, not eating sugar candy and taking good care of the teeth. It demonstrates that the students have information about buccal health cares answering the questions trying to achieve the researcher’s expectations, however their answers point out to a deficient hygiene practice. In conclusion, these facts are significant examples to carry out a pedagogical work based on problematizing the theme.

KEY WORDS: health education; buccal health; educational programs; students; primary school students