New Delhi: Every year on March 20, people all over the world observe World Oral Health Day with the main goal of raising awareness of the importance of oral health. The purpose of observing this day is to urge people to practise good oral hygiene, care for their teeth, and to educate them on how to avoid dental issues.
Based on a report from the WHO Global Oral Health, it was estimated that worldwide, around every 3 out of 4 people are suffering from caries of permanent teeth. In contrast, 514 million children suffer from caries of primary teeth.
World Oral Health Day 2023: History
World Dental Health Day was first observed on September 12, 2007, after which the concept for the observance was first put forth. It was the birth anniversary of Dr. Charles Godon’s birth, who founded FDI. Later, in 2013, World Dental Health Day was changed to March 20 after the campaign was launched.
World Oral Health Day 2023: Significance
The primary objective of World Oral Health Day is to raise awareness among those who deal with or suffer from oral diseases. It is believed that having an unhealthy tongue also has an adverse effect on everyone’s general health as well as their emotional, social, mental, and physical health in general.
The purpose of the day is also to help people realise that maintaining good oral hygiene can help prevent a lot of diseases such as tooth decay, bad breath and gum disease, Notably, bad dental health can also be a factor in many severe health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, strokes, and breathing problems.
World Oral Health Day 2023: Theme
Every year, World Oral Health Day is given a specific theme. The theme for 2023 is ‘Be Proud of Your Mouth’. It has been the same for the past three years as part of a campaign launched by the World Dental Federation (FDI) in 2021.
