In line with World Oral Health Day 2023, the World Health Organization has made some recommendations that aim to improve the oral health of people all around the world. Their main focus is on the South-East Asia region – owing to their oral health problems. However, the oral health of everyone is crucial, with recommendations also targeted at governments around the world.
World Oral Health Day 2023 is upon us, with this day being an annual reminder of the importance of oral health and its impact on our overall health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) have marked the occasion by making a series of recommendations [1]. They continue to advocate for improved dental care around the world.
What is World Oral Health Day?
World Oral Health Day takes place once a year, and celebrates positive oral health whilst raising awareness in the importance of looking after our teeth.
The day is organized by the World Dental Federation. Owing to substantial research carried out in recent years, the awareness of the importance of strong oral health within the scientific community is at an all-time high. Now, scientists are working out how to transfer this awareness to the general public.
The importance of World Oral Health Day
The importance of World Oral Health Day cannot be underestimated. The WHO estimate that approximately 3.5billion people around the world are affected by oral diseases [1].
Moreover, the WHO have also stated that between 1990 and 2019, estimated numbers of people that suffered from oral diseases increased by more than 1billion people – which exceeded population increase during this period [1].
These findings are deeply worrying, and show how oral health problems are affecting so many people. Therefore, the WHO have now made some recommendations that aim to assist the human population with their oral health.
Recommendations from the WHO: South-East Asia
The WHO’s main focus is on the South-East Asia region – which is a region where oral health is typically poor [2]. These nations include Cambodia, Brunei and Vietnam among others.
One of the main recommendations from the WHO is for countries in the South-East Asia region to accelerate implementation of the Action Plan for Oral Health 2022-2030 – an 8-year plan that sets out a plan for general improvement in oral health across the region [1].
The South-East Asia region is of particular importance. In 2019, the WHO found that the region had an estimated 900million cases of untreated dental caries, gum disease and tooth loss [1]. Moreover, the area also has a high number of oral cancer cases. Therefore, this area needs attention.
The WHO has been providing support to all nations in the region since 2014. They have been making steady progress. 10 nations in the region are now offering oral health screening in primary health care – with the aim of detecting oral problems at an early stage [1].
Moreover, 6 nations have improved their treatment options for emergency dental problems [1]. A further 5 nations have imposed taxes on sugary drinks. All nations in the region are seeing improvements in terms of lessening tobacco use.
This action plan forms a wider goal of the WHO, which concerns achieving universal coverage for oral health by 2030 [1]. While this might be seen as ambitious, it is achievable, and work is being done to assist in this.
General Recommendations
While the main focus is on South-East Asia, the WHO has also put forward general recommendations. This includes providing adequate financing for dental programs. Additionally, this involves ministries of health providing “dedicated, qualified, functional, well-resourced and accountable oral health units that are integrated with existing internal structures and collaborate across programme areas” [1].
Another recommendation concerns promoting the importance of oral health from a young age, typically through education in school. The WHO note that education should also involve reducing risk factors like tobacco use and high sugar diets [1].
They also suggest that countries should establish systems to collect detailed information on oral health services [1]. This can help oral health professionals to notice patterns and apportion funding to areas that require the most attention. The aim is to provide decision-making personnel with data-backed evidence to help with oral health treatment.
These various recommendations can help any country around the world. The onus is on each of us to look after our own oral health, but governments around the world are in a position to educate their citizens on the importance of oral health.
The main focus of the WHO is on the South-East Asia region, but all countries are important. The aim is for the entire population to have excellent oral health and simple access to oral health treatment.
Thinking points…
1) World Oral Health Day provides us with a timely reminder of the importance of our oral health. Take this chance to review your own oral health hygiene and think if there are areas you can improve upon. One of the most important aspects of this is attending regular dental appointments. This is the easiest and most effective way of receiving an update and overview on your oral health. We recommend booking an appointment now!
2) It can be very helpful to have a discussion with your family about World Oral Health Day. It is a chance for everyone to see if they can make any improvements in their oral hygiene routine. If you have children, it can be really useful to use this day as a chance to make them aware of the importance of oral health. Remember that taking them to regular dental appointments is crucial!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that provide its patients with a range of dental treatment options and advice aimed at improving their oral health.
It is crucial to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to floss regularly. Moreover, eating healthily and trying to avoid sugary foods and drink is important.
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a regular dental check-up. When problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Many people find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, all of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca.
References
[1] Djuric, M. (2023). NDP want Liberals to expand GST rebate, fund school lunches in upcoming budget. Available: https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/ndp-want-liberals-to-expand-gst-rebate-fund-school-lunches-in-upcoming-budget-1.6312478. Last accessed: 17th March 2023.
[2] Rouleau, T., Harrington, A., Brennan, M., Hammond, F., Hirsch, M., Nussbaum, M., & Bockeneck, W. (2011). Receipt of dental care and barriers encountered by persons with disabilities. Special care in Dentistry. 31 (2): p63-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1754-4505.2011.00178.x.
