World Oral Health Day 2022!!

Be Proud of Your Mouth!

World Oral Health Day is Celebrated every year on the 20th of March to spread awareness globally on how important it is to maintain a good oral hygiene and the benefits of maintaining good oral health. FDI celebrates the World oral Health Day, and there is a different theme for it every year. The theme for this year is “Be Proud of your mouth”.

Oral health leads to overall health. If you have healthy teeth and gums you will also be able to eat and digest better. Gum diseases many times are the cause of cardiac disease. Also most of the dental diseases are preventable and can be treated if diagnosed early.

So, how can we make sure we have healthy gums and teeth?

There are many things that can be done at home which will help in maintaining a good oral hygiene.

Brush twice daily

Brushing twice daily and brushing all the surfaces of the teeth is the key to good oral hygiene. Brush the outer surface, the inner surface and the surface used to chew. Most of the times the inner surface of the lower front teeth is missed and this is where maximum deposits are found.

If you have upper and lower third molars and the normal sized brush can not reach the outer surface of these teeth, you can use a toothbrush with a smaller head (you can go for a baby brush).

Use a soft to medium toothbrush and remember to change your toothbrush within 3-4 months. Remember to brush before you sleep at night and do not eat or drink anything (except water) after you have brushed.

Brushing of kids teeth should start as soon as the first tooth erupts in the baby’s mouth.

Floss daily

The surface in between the teeth can not be reached by a toothbrush. So, flossing at least once a day is important to prevent decay in between two teeth. Also it helps in preventing bad breath by removing plaque and any food particles causing halitosis.

Remember to clean your tongue

A lot of bacteria gets harbored on your tongue as well, especially the posterior one third. Remember to clean the tongue whenever you brush your teeth. This too helps in preventing bad breath as it is mainly caused by bacteria over the surface of the tongue.

Use a fluoridated toothpaste

Using a pea size of fluoridated toothpaste is what should be used as it helps in preventing cavities. Even for the kids, a grain size of any kids age appropriate fluoridated toothpaste till the age of 3 years and a pea size after the age of 3 years is what is required. It not only cleans the surface of the tooth but also helps in preventing cavities.

Drink plenty of water

Drinking more of water help in washing out of the bacteria from the mouth. Avoid sugary drinks and prefer drinking water instead. Drinking more of soda and sugary drinks can cause cavities and erosion of teeth as well.

Avoid sticky food

Sticky food like chocolates, chips, cookies, biscuits etc. are again the source of cavities as the food gets stuck to the teeth which then releases acids. Better is to avoid such food or brush after having it.

Avoid tobacco and tobacco products

Smoking or any kind of tobacco is dangerous for your oral health. It lowers the immunity, causes gum disease, leads to delay in healing after any dental procedure and can even cause oral cancer.

So, tobacco in any form should be avoided. If there is a habit, there are tobacco cessation centers where you can visit and help yourself withdraw.

Visit your dentist

Dental visit is a must once every 6 months. Any decay or any other oral problem which might be there would be diagnosed and treated early. For kids, the first dental visit is mandatory by the child’s first birthday.

World Oral Health Day is organized by FDI World Dental Federation and is the largest global awareness campaign on oral health. Good oral health helps in better overall health and helps you live longer. Many of us just ignore visiting a dentist or brushing teeth twice daily or flossing. Oral diseases can lead to pain, discomfort, reduced intake of food, therefore causing weakness and a lot of health problems. The Indian Dental Association has been conducting campaigns over the past several years, to attain its goal of good oral health for all in the country.

Join the #MouthProudChallenge on Facebook or Instagram and be a part of World Oral Health Day.

Disclaimer:

This blog provides general information about Oral Health. The opinion and content on this blog is only for conversational purposes and should not be interpreted as dental or medical advice pertaining to any particular individual. If the reader or any other person has a medical or dental concern, he or she should consult with an appropriate licensed physician or a health care provider.

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