World Oral Health Day is celebrated every year on 20 March.
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 oral hygiene to looking after everyone old and young.
In 2019, the theme for World Oral Health Day is ‘a healthy mouth and body go hand in hand’.
History of World Oral Health Day
World Oral Health Day was first declared in 2007 and was originally celebrated on 12 September – the birth date of FDI founder Dr Charles Godon. However, the campaign was not fully activated until 2013, after the date was changed to 20 March to avoid conflict with the FDI World Dental Congress taking place in September. The new date was chosen to reflect that:- Seniors must have a total of 20 natural teeth at the end of their life to be considered healthy
- Children should possess 20 baby teeth
- Healthy adults must have a total of 32 teeth and 0 dental
cavities
- Expressed on a numerical basis this can be translated as 3/20 hence March 20
World Oral Health Day 2019
Millions of people around the globe continue to suffer from poor oral health and the growing burden of oral disease demands action on an individual, family and community level. Poor oral health extends far beyond the mouth, taking a serious toll on an individual’s overall health and well-being. Poor oral hygiene causes gum disease, which has been linked to other serious health problems including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes. Furthermore, poor dental health can reduce confidence, self-worth and mental health. Thekey message of World Oral Health Day 2019 is to take care of your oral health to protect your mouth, body and overall well-being.What you can do
It’s never too early or too late to start looking after your oral health. Act today to keep a healthy mouth through life:- Take good care of your oral health at home
- Eat a healthy diet, particularly one low in sugar, avoid tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption
- Have a regular dental check-up
