FDI – The Straight Tooth

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/