Reprinted in part from giftfromtheheart.ca
On Saturday February 08, 2014 Registered Dental Hygienists all across Canada will open their hearts and clinics to provide oral health care to the public who may be financially unable to receive dental hygiene care or who have difficulty accessing dental hygiene treatment; at no cost.
Visit Gift from the Heart website to view participating locations.
WHAT IS THE WORLD ORAL HEALTH DAY?
It is an international day to celebrate the benefits of a healthy mouth and to promote worldwide awareness of the issues around oral health and the importance of looking after oral hygiene to everyone old and young.
It is a day for people to have fun – a day that should be full of activities that make us laugh, sing and smile!
The aim of WOHD is to raise awareness and encourage individuals, families, communities and governments to take action and help reduce the global burden of oral disease.
WHY IS WORLD ORAL HEALTH DAY HELD ON THE 20TH MARCH?
It was moved from its original date of 12th September due to clashes with other international days and specifically the annual FDI Congress. The new date was selected because:
• Children have 20 milk teeth
• Seniors should have 20 natural teeth at the end of their life
• When expressed numerically, month before day, i.e. 3/20 – the result is what healthy adults should have, 32 teeth and 0 caries
WHY IS WOHD IMPORTANT?
Because 90% of the world’s population will suffer from oral diseases in their lifetime and many of them can be avoided with increased governmental, health association and society support and funding for prevention, detection and treatment programmes.
Working together helps us unite our efforts to prevent the epidemic of caries, gum diseases and tooth loss and help our
communities to maintain proper dentition for life.
QUICK GLOBAL FACTS
• 90% of the world’s population will suffer from oral disease in their lifetime ranging from caries, periodontal diseases and tooth decay to oral cancer.
• Only 60% of the world’s population enjoys access to oral health care.
• 60%-90% of school children worldwide have dental caries.
Information reprinted in part from http://www.worldoralhealthday.org/
© The Straight Tooth 2014
Did you know…
With 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are projected to be sold for Valentine’s Day, many of us will be either giving or receiving these tasty treats.* Chocolate can actually be good for your teeth because it has an anti-bacterial effect in the mouth and can stop dental decay!**
Helpful hints…
* huffingtonpost.com (Feb 7, 2012)
**Chocolate Can Protect Against Tooth Decay, available at worldental.org (Apr 30, 2008)
© The Straight Tooth 2013
Did you know…
Christmas and Boxing Day are the worst 48 hours of the year for our teeth* because of the constant onslaught of food, wine, fizzy drinks, and sweets!
Helpful hints…
*British Dental Health Foundation, available at perfectdental.eu.com
© The Straight Tooth 2012
The Straight Tooth 