World Oral Health Day
Be Proud of Your Mouth
Every year on 20th March, World Oral Health Day is celebrated globally. It aims to empower people with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to prevent oral diseases. This year, the occasion aims to encourage people to be proud of their mouth.
Your oral health should be a priority as it mirrors your overall well-being. Poor oral health can create a host of problems, including tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath, and even tooth loss. It has also been linked to health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and strokes.
There are not only the physical health benefits to consider, but there are also the mental health benefits. Having a healthy mouth can change how you feel about yourself, and how you feel around others - in other words, impacting your happiness. So, what can you do to maintain good oral health?
Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene
It’s important to practice good oral hygiene. This means brushing your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily, and using mouthwash to target bacteria and freshen your breath. It’s also important to visit your dentist regularly for check-ups as they can identify and treat any problems before they become more serious.
Eating a variety of nutrient rich foods and limiting those that are high in sugar is not only good for your teeth and gums, but also for the prevention of diabetes and obesity. There are numerous foods that are recommended for better oral health, including but not limited to: low-fat milk, yoghurt, cheese, leafy green vegetables, eggs, nuts, fish, lean meats, and potatoes.
It’s especially important to stay away from tobacco products of any sort, as they can increase the risk of gum disease and oral cancer.
We want to echo the World Dental Federation and encourage people to value and protect their oral health. That’s why we’re asking that you look after yourself for your happiness and well-being. The goal of a happy life unites us all.
Inspire Change
WOHD aims to inspire change by focusing on the inter-relationship between oral health and overall health. It is thought that oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people, making it the most common health condition globally. If we come together to transform the way that people view their oral hygiene, we can help reduce the burden of oral diseases worldwide.
Prevention is the best way to protect yourself from oral disease. Maintaining good oral health can help you live a longer, healthier life.
