320 World Oral Health Day

Oral health is closely related to our well-being

Experts call for " A HAPPY MOUTH IS…A HAPPY BODY"

HONG KONG, March 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest Global Oral Health Status Report published by the World Health Organization in November 2022, the prevalence of oral diseases is ranked first among more than 300 common diseases, and currently about 3.5 billion people worldwide suffer from oral diseases¹.  The report also clearly points out that oral diseases bring about physical, mental and social impacts to individuals on more than 10 levels, which affect, around the clock, the daily life of individuals².

See the release graphic here. 

Dr. Chu Chun Hung, Immediate Past President of the Society of Preventive Dentistry of Hong Kong and the Asian Academy of Preventive Dentistry, explains that over the years, academic research has confirmed that "Oral health impacts the quality of life (Oral Health Related Quality of Life, OHRQoL)"³.  Oral diseases impact not only the mouth, but also cause pain and discomfort, affect oral function, mood, job and school, and treatment expectations.  These five major oral health conditions can all affect a person's physical and mental health and well-being.

A healthy mouth is the prerequisite to ensuring physical and mental health, and to enhance the sense of well-being in life. The theme of this year's World Oral Health Day is "A HAPPY MOUTH IS...A HAPPY BODY". The Society of Preventive Dentistry of Hong Kong urges the people of Hong Kong to maintain good oral hygiene habits. In addition to regular dental checkups, people need to brush their teeth every morning and evening with toothpaste containing fluoride, floss or use an interdental brush to clean the areas between the teeth, and avoid or reduce the consumption of sweets. Adults and children aged 4 years or older can chew sugar-free gum. Chewing sugar-free gum stimulates saliva production and neutralizes acidity in the mouth, effectively preventing tooth decay⁴. The effectiveness of sugar-free gum in preventing tooth decay has been recognized by the World Dental Federation (FDI).

1: Global oral health status report: towards universal health coverage for oral health by 2030. p7. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022

2: Global oral health status report: towards universal health coverage for oral health by 2030. p21. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022

3: Oral health related QOL, JDR 2011

4: A systematic literature review and statistical analysis conducted by the King's College London Dental Institute, published in the journal JDR Clinical & Translational Research in July 2020, showed that chewing sugar-free gum reduced the incidence of tooth decay by 28%.

About the Society of Preventive Dentistry of Hong Kong

The Society of Preventive Dentistry of Hong Kong provides oral care knowledge with the common goal of promoting oral health. If you would like to learn more about the Hong Kong Society of Preventive Dentistry, please refer to http://www.spdhk.org/index-tc.html.

source: Society of Preventive Dentistry of Hong Kong