
World Oral Health Day
Mar 19 , 2022
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Every year on the 20th of March, World Oral Health Day is observed to spread awareness about oral hygiene and to unite to help reduce the burden of oral diseases, which are affecting individuals, health systems and economies everywhere.
History Of WOHD
WOHD was initially celebrated on September 12, 2007. The day March 20 is set apart to commemorate the occasion to keep away from clashes with FDI World Dental Congress that occurred in September. The date was additionally picked to mirror the significance of oral cleanliness and care as the youngsters should have 20 primary teeth and the senior residents should be left with 20 teeth toward the end of their life. Healthy grown-ups should have 32 teeth with 0 dental holes.
Oral Diseases And their Causes
There are many oral diseases that are commonly neglected that later on turn into a bigger problem. Most oral diseases are caused by an accumulation of plaque that in turn leads to the decay of the teeth. The plaque also turns into hard calculus that eventually causes gums to swell, this inflammation of gums is called gingivitis, that if left untreated leads to periodontitis, which is the destruction of all the periodontal attachments and ultimately the bone loss. Some risk factors that include Pan Chahlia(betel nut), smoking, and alcohol consumption can cause serious conditions in the mouth that can be as lethal as malignancies.
Significance Of WOHD
Bad oral health affects nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide. Oral cancer is the leading cause of death due to cancer in South Asia including Pakistan. An undesirable mouth can cause huge torment, and lead to hindered personal satisfaction, and impaired quality of life, even costing one their life in the case of lethal cancer. Therefore it is very important to dedicate a day to shed light on the importance of oral hygiene.
Theme Of WOHD
FDI unveiled their three-year theme(2021-23) “Be Proud of Your Mouth”. Under its three-year campaign theme, it is aimed to motivate people to value and take care of their mouths and understand that in doing so, they also help protect their happiness and well-being.
Important Steps To Maintain Oral Hygiene
In order to keep our oral cavity healthy there are some measures we need to take:
- Make a habit of brushing twice daily.
- Floss once daily.
- Mouthwash for once at least.
- Reduce risk factors such as Paan, chahlia, gutka, smoking, alcohol etc.