On 20th March 2016, over a million dentists from 200 organisations based in 130 countries across the world will join together with FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) to celebrate World Oral Health Day, turning the global spotlight to the importance of maintaining good oral health.
Already, over 40 countries from across five continents have recorded their pledge to help improve oral health across the globe and reveal what good oral health means to them. These pledges, containing practical oral care advice, are available to view on the World Oral Health
Day website in order to inspire and encourage others to improve their oral care regime. Behind these celebrations is a serious message. Poor oral health has been associated with a number of health conditions such as:
There is an indicated link between good oral health and overall health: In one study 40% of people with serious gum disease also reported suffering from an additional chronic condition.
ii World Oral Health Day 2016 aims to educate people that good oral health goes beyond having a nice smile – it is fundamentally intertwined with overall well-being. To further encourage participation in World Oral Health Day and spread this message, FDI has created its first ever smartphone game. Mad Mouths challenges players to ‘brush’ away as many plaque bugs and foods as they can before their game time runs out – reiterating the many benefits of brushing teeth. Oral care tips which appear throughout the game improve oral care understanding, enabling more people than ever before to interact with dental advice.
FDI President Dr Patrick Hescot says: “We are very excited to launch this landmark campaign, which educates people across the world on the importance of looking after their oral health –not just for the sake of their smile, but for their overall well-being. Our innovative new smartphone game, launching on World Oral Health Day, is a way of engaging people of all ages across the globe and providing practical oral care advice in a new and exciting format.”
Dentist Dr Edoardo Cavallè says: “Oral diseases affect 3.9 billion people worldwide, with between 60% and 90% of children globally suffering from tooth decay. Yet there is a lack of understanding of the key role that oral health plays in our overall health; simple steps such as brushing twice daily for two minutes, needs to be integrated into all our oral care routines.
World Oral Health Day is a fantastic opportunity for the dental community to make a real difference in the state of oral health across the globe. ”
