World Oral Health Day is celebrated every year on 20 March and is organised by FDI World Dental Federation. It highlights the importance of optimal oral health and recognises the significance of good oral hygiene practice amongst children and adults. On this day many campaigns and events are organised to celebrate the day, backed with a theme that sends out a substantial public message regarding oral health.
The World Oral Health Day was first originally declared in 2017, on 12 September, marking the birthday of FDI founder Dr Charles Godon, but the campaign was not fully activated until 2013 after which the date was changed to 20 March.
World Oral Health Day Importance
People around the world suffer from all sorts of oral diseases, which can be avoided by educating or creating awareness by offering the right knowledge. FDI encourages all government and non-government organisations, along with media to participate in national and global activities that would help in improving the overall oral health.
World Oral Health Day Theme
Last year, the World Oral Health Day theme was “Unite for Mouth Health” which focused on how one should take care of the oral health and body. This year, the World Oral Health Day 2021 theme for the next three years sends out a simple message “Be Proud Of Your Mouth”, which in other words means to take good care and value your oral hygiene.
Oral diseases are the most common non-communicable disease that affects people throughout their life, which causes discomfort, pain, disfigurement and sometimes death. Oral cancer happens to be one of the top three of all cancers in some Asian-Pacific countries and in most of the low and middle-income countries, the demand for oral health care is beyond the capacities of health care systems.
All in all, oral health can’t be ignored and is one of the key indicators of overall wellbeing, health and quality of life.