Putting oral health at the top of the to-do list this World Oral Health Day

Today on World Oral Health Day, the FDI World Dental Federation is encouraging people all over the world to make a personal commitment to prioritising their oral health through the #MouthProudChallenge.

Dentists and other oral healthcare professionals are also being encouraged to take part by using the challenge to keep the conversation going with their patients on the importance of taking good care of their teeth and gums.

World Oral Health Day, which aims to empower people with the knowledge, tools and confidence to practice good oral health practices, is targeted at the following groups:

- individuals to take personal action

- schools and youth groups to deliver learning activities about oral health

- oral health professionals and the wider healthcare community to educate the populations they serve

- governments and policymakers to champion better oral health for all.

The need for people to engage in good oral healthcare is a pressing one with nearly 3.5 billion worldwide dealing with far-reaching consequences from poor oral health such as tooth decay and severe gum disease such as periodontitis.

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The ADA’s Australia’s Oral Health Tracker makes it clear that while Australians are getting better at looking after their oral health, some 32% of adults still have untreated tooth decay and only 53% of adults aged over 18 brush their teeth twice a day as recommended.

One of the priorities of the ADA is “to encourage the improvement of the oral and general health of the public” which it undertakes through a variety of means including Teeth.org.au and annual oral health promotional events such as Dental Health Week and World Oral Health Day.

FDI’s three-year "Be Proud of Your Mouth" campaign theme hopes to aid these efforts by national dental associations such as the ADA by motivating “people to value and take care of their mouths and understand that in doing so, they also help protect their happiness and well-being.”

"Everyone can take personal action this World Oral Health Day to help start a new trend for the sake of happiness and well-being," says FDI President, Prof. Ihsane Ben Yahya. "Let's come together on a global scale to raise awareness, improve education and spur personal and collective action on the importance of oral health for all."

A range of specially created oral health resources can be also accessed at the ADA’s Teeth.org.au