World Oral Health Unified Week

Oral illnesses are said to impact 3.5 billion individuals globally. In India, over the past three decades, oral illnesses have continued to be the most common disease group in the country in the past three decades, impacting over 66.7 crore (49.2% of the population) as opposed to 43.2 crore (50.2%) in 2017. 

All of this calls for a serious concern. Oral health is often overlooked. However, it is the root of many severe diseases. To combat this, we celebrate World Oral Health Day. In honour of World Oral Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls on all of the Southeast Asia region to expedite the implementation of the new Action Plan for Oral Health 2022–2030.

The goal of this plan is to guarantee good oral health and that every person across the world has access to good oral care, with a particular emphasis on attaining universal coverage for oral health by 2030. 

What is the Significance of World Oral Health Day?

Oral diseases are a serious health concern that creates a lifelong detrimental effect on people. Oral diseases cause discomfort, social exclusion, low self-esteem, and pain. They are also associated with other major health problems. 

Considering all this, people suffer a lot. The main reason is a lack of awareness. In fact, in the majority of oral health issues, people don't need to suffer because these are generally avoidable and can be managed when they are still in their early stages.  

This is how World Oral Health Day awareness helps. The initiative usually encourages:

• Oral healthcare specialists and the wider community to educate the public
• Individuals to adopt certain measures and take personal action 
• Policymakers and governments to promote good oral health worldwide 
• Youth groups and schools to promote awareness and activities about oral care and hygiene

Word Oral Health Day: History 

Dr. Charles Godon was the founder of FDI (Fédération Dentaire Internationale, now known as the World Dental Federation). He was born on September 12. Initially, this was when World Oral Health Day was declared first in 2007. However, the campaign didn't start working actively until 2013. After this, the World Oral Health Day was rescheduled to March 20 to avoid conflicting with the September FDI World Dental Congress. This rescheduled date was chosen to indicate that: 

1. Adults (healthy) must have zero dental cavities and a total of 32 teeth 
2. Seniors must have at least 20 natural teeth by the end of their life to be deemed healthy 
3. Children must have 20 baby teeth 
4. If this were expressed numerically, it would be 3/20. Hence, March 20.

Why Do We Celebrate World Oral Health Day?

The goal of World Oral Health Day is to provide people with the necessary information, resources, and self-assurance to maintain good oral health. World Oral Health Unified Week is all about calling out individuals across the globe to lessen the overwhelming feeling, the burden, and the impact of oral diseases on people's lives, health systems, and economies worldwide. 

Each year, the World Oral Health Unified Week comes with a theme. This year, the World Oral Health Day theme 2024 is to focus on the relationship between oral health and general health.

Why is Oral Health Important in India?

Dental caries, often known as tooth decay, periodontal disease, and oral cancer, are major oral concerns in India. The government estimates indicate that over 90% of adults have periodontal disease, and more than 70% of school-going children have dental caries.

Precisely, around 43.2 crores (32%) suffer from untreated caries of permanent teeth, 18.1 crores (13.3%) suffer from severe periodontitis, and 11.2 crores (8.3%) suffer from untreated caries of deciduous teeth. Despite this, only 12.4% of adults in India have had a dentist examine their mouth cavity, as drafted by the National Oral Health Policy 2018. 

Moreover, given that tobacco use is one of the highest in India, causing oral cancer, the issue has only gotten worse lately. Risk factors for oral illnesses include stress, hazardous alcohol use, unhealthy cariogenic diets, pan masala tobacco smoking, and poor dental hygiene. There are numerous similarities between these risk factors and other non-communicable diseases.

All things considered, India's oral health situation continues to be a significant problem. Even with recent advancements, the nation faces challenges in offering quality dental care to its citizens. If more and more people understand what are the aims and objectives of oral health, the problems can be tackled better. 

Oral Care in India: Challenges 

India faces a list of challenges when it comes to dental hygiene and health. Some of them are:

• There is a shortage of knowledge and awareness regarding the significance of good oral health. 
• Basic oral hygiene habits are often neglected. This leads to a variety of dental problems. 
• Another big obstacle that keeps a lot of people from getting the appropriate dental treatment they need is affordability. 

A comprehensive strategy, including public awareness campaigns, upgraded infrastructure, and reasonably priced dental care, is needed to address these issues. By implementing World Oral Health Day activities and educating people about what is oral health awareness, people can get the required treatment. 

Easy Tips for Good Oral Health

It is important to take daily precautions and follow some easy tips to keep your teeth healthy and avoid oral issues. Take a look! 

Clean Your Teeth before Going to Bed

Brushing right before bed eliminates the bacteria and plaque that build up during the day. Brush your teeth twice. 

Brush Application

Take your time and make light, circular motions with the toothbrush. Gingivitis, or early gum disease, and calculus accumulation can result from unremoved hardened plaque. 

Clean Your Tongue

Plague in the tongue can cause poor mouth odour and stomach issues. Each time you brush your teeth, gently brush your tongue as well.

Use Fluoride Toothpaste

Get fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride fights tooth decay. It fights germs that can cause decay and acts as a shield for your teeth. 

Visit a Dentist Twice a Year

You should visit your dentist for check-ups and cleanings at least twice a year. Your dentist can detect possible problems in addition to removing calculus and checking for potential cavities.

Summing Up

Oral care and oral treatment can get costly at times. With decay, gum problems and oral cancer, the treatment becomes generally hefty for many. It may deplete your hard-earned money with consecutive treatment sessions. 

With frequent check-ups and early treatments for cavities and plaque, you can ward off severe oral diseases. Despite the cost, it is important to maintain good oral health and hygiene. This is when Care Health Insurance enters. One of our popular plans, Care Freedom provides coverage for dental care under its daycare benefit as per the policy terms. To check the scope of coverage, kindly refer to the policy fine print or connect with our experts.  

>> Also Read: Does Health Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Disclaimers: The above information is for reference purposes only. Kindly consult your general physician for verified medical advice. The health insurance benefits are subject to policy terms and conditions. Refer to your policy documents for more information.