World Oral Health Day (WOHD) is a far-reaching global oral health campaign. It is a platform for the public, oral health community, and policymakers to help reduce the overall oral disease burden.
WOHD is celebrated on 20 March every year; the day was first declared by FDI (World Dental Federation) in 2007 and first officially celebrated in 2013. It is the culmination of a year-long campaign dedicated to raising global awareness on the prevention and control of oral diseases. It is an international day to promote good oral health for everyone and empower individuals to maintain a healthy mouth at all ages.
The official theme of the 2019 World Oral Health Day (WOHD) campaign is ‘Say Ahh: Act on Mouth Health’. With this campaign, FDI calls on individuals to take tangible action to protect their oral health.
Millions of people around the globe continue to suffer from poor oral health and the growing burden of oral disease demands action on an individual, family and community level. Poor oral health extends far beyond the mouth, taking a serious toll on an individual’s overall health and well-being. However, FDI is confident that concerted, targeted action can curb the prevalence of oral disease and make oral health a personal priority for everyone.
The WOHD campaign provides an ideal platform to raise awareness and encourage action in favour of good oral health. By leveraging thoughtfully coordinated efforts at local, national and global levels, the voice of the oral health community can be amplified leading up to WOHD, which is celebrated on 20 March every year.
‘Say Ahh: Act on Mouth Health’ motivates individuals to take charge of their own oral health by taking specific action to prevent oral disease and safeguard their overall health. Beyond the individual level, the campaign will position oral health professionals as key stakeholders in educating patients on the wider implications of protecting their oral health. Helping them recognize that preventive care is always the best option, but early detection and treatment are also crucial to ensuring the best outcomes against oral disease and associated health complications. The campaign will also aim to secure the commitment from policymakers to address the oral disease burden and integrate oral health into policies that address other diseases.
WOHD encourages all stakeholders to work together to secure optimal oral health for all and commit to ‘Act on Mouth Health’.
Here are three essential tips to improve your dental health.
Here are three essential tips to improve your dental health. pic.twitter.com/kIEOwEHVj5
— Medical Daily (@medicaldaily) March 13, 2019