Dental Tribune South African Edition

4 International Dental Tribune South African Edition - February 2015 Dental Tribune International GENEVA, Switzerland: The FDI World Dental Federation has launched the World Oral Health Day 2015 (WOHD) “Smile for life” campaign to remind people everywhere about the importance of looking after their teeth and gums. WOHD is celebrated throughout the world on 20 March each year with a wide range of awareness-raising activities organised by dentists, dental students, national dental associations and corporate partners. Over 90 per cent of the world’s population will suffer from some form of dental disease in their lifetime, but many of these diseases can easily be treated or prevented with a good oral care routine. The WOHD 2015 “Smile for life” campaign includes a call to action (“It’s time to …”), which campaigners can adapt to their local needs and circumstances. Dentists at the FDI Annual World Dental Congress in New Delhi in September endorsed the “Smile for life” campaign both literally and figuratively when they took turns to “Smile for life” in front of WOHD 2015 campaign poster. FDI President Dr Tin Chun Wong commented, “The ‘Smile for life’ campaign reminds us that oral disease can be prevented by practising good oral hygiene throughout life, from childhood to mature adulthood. After tripling the number of countries celebrating World Oral Health Day between 2013 and 2014, we are now looking to reach an even larger audience in even more countries, as well as online.” FDI Executive Director Jean-Luc Eiselé added, “We want to encourage everyone to celebrate this important day. Participants can download materials such as logos, posters and toolkits to plan their activities from the ‘Smile for life’ campaign website—where they can also read inspiring stories from last year’s campaign to help them plan their World Oral Health Day 2015.” In addition, the FDI confirmed that WOHD’s four key global partners - LISTERINE, Unilever, Henry Schein and the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program - have renewed their commitment to support the campaign in 2015. “The continued support from our partners is essential in ensuring that World Oral Health Day keeps on having a global impact, and that our message can reach as wide an audience as possible,” emphasised Wong. World Oral Health Day “Smile for life” campaign Dental Tribune International GENEVA, Switzerland: As World Oral Health Day (WOHD) 2015 approaches, FDI World Dental Federation advises people to consider the impact of frequent sugar consumption on their smile for life. Dental caries is the most common non-communicable disease in the world, and research has demonstrated that sugars are the main cause of tooth decay. When one eats or drinks something sugary, the bacteria in the plaque feeds on the sugar and releases acid that attacks teeth for about one hour. Frequent consumption of sugar results in prolonged acid attacks, weakening the protective outer layer of the teeth. Speaking about this process, Dr Jaime Edelson, chairperson of the FDI WOHD task team, commented: “Sugar reacts with bacteria in the mouth, which together form an acid that damages the enamel. When this keeps happening, a hole is formed in the tooth, which then requires filling and may over time lead to an extraction. By paying close attention to how often we are consuming sugary foods and drinks, the number of acid attacks on our teeth can be reduced.” FDI encourages people to limit sugar intake

Dental Tribune South African Edition

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