World Oral Health Day

When was the last time you had a dental check-up? If it’s been more than a year, we invite you to keep reading this article. We often underestimate our mouth and neglect dental check-ups a bit, but if we think about it, having a healthy mouth directly influences our happiness and our overall health. The mouth is the gateway to our general health, and keeping it in good condition is an investment in our quality of life.

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That is why World Oral Health Day is celebrated on March 20th, to raise awareness among people about the importance of maintaining good oral health, promote healthy habits and make known the risk factors that can cause problems in the mouth and teeth. The oral cavity aids in the execution of functions in our body, such as chewing, swallowing, and phonation. That is why we must maintain adequate oral health, as it allows us:

Chew and process food properly.
Promote the digestion process.
Contribute to maintaining good overall health.
Better appreciate the taste of food.
Prevent diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular diseases, given that their relationship with oral health has been demonstrated, according to various studies.

We recommend reading:International Dentist Day: Recognizing the work of those who take care of our oral health

2024 – 2026 Campaign: “A happy mouth is a happy body”

The FDI conducts triennial campaigns to celebrate World Oral Health Day. The campaign for the period 2024 to 2026 has been recently published, with the slogan: “A happy mouth is a happy body”. The idea of the importance of taking care of our mouth and teeth to feel good in general is to be emphasized. They introduce us to their mascot Toothie, who will take a leading role in an exciting adventure inspired by a movie.

Origin of the Commemoration: Why is a day dedicated to oral health celebrated?

World Oral Health Day has been promoted by the World Dental Federation (FDI),a non-governmental organization based in Geneva, which brings together more than one million dentists belonging to 230 associations located in more than 100 countries. They work together with the World Health Organization and other international partners to improve oral health worldwide. This Federation develops continuing education programs, awareness campaigns and initiatives aimed at the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases. Annually it holds the World Dental Congress, for the discussion of topics related to advances in oral health.

This commemoration was created on the initiative of the FDI, with the participation of more than 100 countries around the world. It was declared in 2007 and was first celebrated on September 12, on the occasion of the birth date of the founder of the FDI (Dr. Charles Godon). In 2013, the celebration date of this commemoration was changed to March 20, because the FDI World Dental Congress is held in September. A curious fact about the selection of the day (20) and the month (March) to commemorate World Oral Health Day is due to a numerical relationship, related to the number of teeth:

Older people should have 20 natural teeth at the end of their lives to be considered healthy.
Most children get their first 20 “baby teeth” before the age of three.
Healthy adults should have a total of 32 teeth and 0 dental caries (3/20).

Oral diseases: a health problem

Oral diseases affect people’s health throughout their lives, causing pain, discomfort, social isolation and loss of self-confidence. They are also associated with other serious diseases and health problems, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. According to various studies, it is estimated that 90% of the world’s population may suffer from some oral disease, which are predictable and treatable through early detection. Some of the most common are the following:

Dental caries.
Periodontitis or gum inflammation.
Halitosis (bad breath).
Sores and canker sores.
Cold sores.
Oral cancer.

Among the risk factors for suffering from some of these oral health conditions are poor diet (especially high intake of carbohydrates and sugars), tobacco and alcohol consumption, and poor oral hygiene habits.

You can also read:Governor of Azua supports the program “Schools Free of Cavities”

Recommendations for Good Oral Health

Below we mention some recommendations to reduce the risk of suffering from oral health conditions:

Visit the dentist every 6 months or at least once a year.
Brush 3 or more times a day. Upon waking, after each meal, and before bed.
Use mouthwash to reduce plaque.
Replace or change your toothbrush every 3 months.
Perform periodic dental cleanings (tartar removal).
Use dental floss to prevent cavities and eliminate plaque buildup.
Strive for a balanced diet to help strengthen the immune system against infections.
Avoid drinking soft drinks, artificial juices, and energy drinks.
Avoid the consumption of tobacco and alcohol.