Please activate JavaScript!
Please install Adobe Flash Player, click here for download
ePaper created 2018-03-26, 09:23:37 | version 1.38.0
10 TRENDS & APPLICATIONS Dental Tribune Asia Pacific Edition | 1+2/2018 “Good oral health is for life, not just for World Oral Health Day” An interview with FDI President Dr Kathryn Kell and Philips CEO of Business Group Health and Wellness Sinéad Kwant Since 2016, the FDI World Dental Fed- eration and oral health product man- ufacturer Philips have been partner- ing to promote World Oral Health Day on 20 March. In this interview, Dental Tribune International (DTI) speaks to FDI President Dr Kathryn Kell and Philips CEO of Business Group Health and Wellness Sinéad Kwant about the significance of this day, challenges in improving oral health globally and how the collabo- ration between the two organisa- tions can help. DTI: In your opinion, is oral health im- proving globally? Dr Kathryn Kell: The global burden of oral disease remains sig- nificant and widespread; most peo- Dr Kathryn Kell ple will be affected in their life- times. The message that good oral health is an essential part of overall health and quality of life is still not fully embraced everywhere, and in- dividuals across the globe continue to suffer from poor oral health. Oral health promotion, as well as pre- vention and control of oral disease, is key to ensure that people around the world are prioritising their oral health. As the authoritative voice of dentistry, it is our responsibility to step up to the challenges and drive the fight against oral disease to en- sure that we are fulfilling our vision of leading the world to optimal oral health. Sinéad Kwant: While there is a growing trend for people to inte- grate technology into their life- styles to improve their health and well-being, such as using apps to track diet and fitness or oral health goals, there remain larger global is- sues that impact oral health. While people in the developed world live longer, increasingly sedentary life- styles have led to a surge in chronic diseases, including obesity and dia- betes. These in turn have signifi- cant implications for oral health. With almost four billion people worldwide affected by oral disease, it is our job to raise awareness of and educate people on the link be- tween oral health and overall health and encourage them to de- velop healthy habits that last a life- time. In your opinion, what are the main risks or barriers to people not focus- ing on their oral health? Kell: Oral health is affected by a wide range of social determinants that can impact access to care. Lack of oral health educa- tion, however, re- mains a main barrier to people maintain- ing good oral health. Therefore, we work hard to raise aware- ness of the impor- tance of oral health and educate people on the intrinsic link between oral health and general health. We advocate pre- ventative care, early detection and treat- ment to encourage people to adopt good oral hygiene habits and follow the advice of oral health profes- sionals so that they understand the im- pact of oral disease on their overall health and well-being. Kwant: One of the main barri- ers to people focusing on their oral health is education and awareness about the importance of good oral health habits and the impact on overall health. Another reason is that many people do not visit their dentist or hygienist regularly and discuss their oral health. They go when there is something wrong, rather than practising preventative care. Working with the FDI, we hope to raise awareness of the impor- tance of building good oral health care routines and encourage people to visit their dental professional and, importantly, to follow his or her advice and maintain good rou- tines between visits. What do you hope your World Oral Health Day campaign will achieve? Kell: This World Oral Health Day, we hope that people will em- brace the campaign theme of “Say ahh: Think mouth, think health”. We want people to make the con- nection between their oral health and their general health and recog- nise the close association between the two and the impact that one has on the other. We encourage people everywhere to commit to preven- tion and control their risk factors; oral health professionals to commit to educating their patients on the positive impact of protecting their oral health on general health; and policymakers to understand their countries’ oral health challenges and launch policies that address oral disease at a local, national and regional level. Kwant: This World Oral Health Day, we want to highlight how a healthy mouth is critical in prevent- ing oral disease, as well as raising awareness of the link between oral and overall health. If we can get peo- ple to make small behavioural changes, these can go a long way to- wards positively impacting oral health, for example, their diet and brushing their teeth twice a day for two minutes. Tell us about the FDI and Philips part- nership and why it’s important? Kell: Philips is a key ally in help- ing us ensure the success of World Oral Health Day. As leaders in the corporate world, companies like Philips have access to an interna- tional community of diverse stake- holders and—by working to- gether—we can disseminate oral health messages to many more people globally. We have seen through their World Oral Health Day activation efforts that Philips is fully committed to improving oral health habits through meaningful innovation. We find this type of support instrumental in helping us improve people’s oral health across borders. Kwant: We know that good oral health can have important associ- ated benefits when it comes to over- all health and wellness. Working with the FDI, we have the opportu- nity to help people better under- stand their oral health, from the foods they eat to their daily brush- ing routine, and share knowledge and best practice. What is next for the future of oral health care? Kell: Prevention is key. We must shift our attention from a tradi- tional restorative approach to one that emphasises disease prevention and oral health promotion. Oral health professionals need to play a key role in educating patients on the wider implications of protect- ing their oral health. A more inte- grated approach to healthcare can help achieve better outcomes for patients with oral disease. Sinéad Kwant Kwant: We believe that we will see a move to more preventative care owing to the rise of digitally connected technology. This also has the possibility of transforming the relationship between the patient and dental professional by intro- ducing the ability to share brushing results or work towards goals. This will change the way dental profes- sionals communicate with their pa- tients and hopefully improve pa- tient compliance between visits. How does your partnership with dental professionals help to improve oral health globally? Kell: Dental professionals are the principal providers of oral dis- ease prevention and treatment and play an indispensable role in work- ing to improve oral health around the world. They must take every op- portunity to serve as global ambas- sadors for oral health and encour- age patients to live healthy life- styles in their daily practice. Educa- tion leads to action and action fuels change. It is up to our profession to step up to the challenges and take action against the burden of oral disease. Kwant: Dental professionals are key to improving oral health. By partnering with the FDI, we have the opportunity to team up and raise awareness of the state of peo- ple’s oral health. It is our job to un- derstand the barriers dental profes- sionals face when it comes to mak- ing sound recommendations and to provide solutions that help them to engage their patients on good oral health. What is the impact of oral health on overall health? Kell: Oral health and general health have a close two-way rela- tionship. The mouth is a mirror of the body and offers clues about the status of overall health. Many gen- eral health conditions increase the risk of oral disease and vice versa. Oral disease can impact every as- pect of life, including personal re- lationships and self-confidence, school and job performance, and even enjoying food. Maintaining a healthy mouth contributes to a life- time of well-being and helps people live a better quality of life into old age. Kwant: We are continuing to ex- plore the link between oral health and systemic health, but we know that it has an important effect on overall health and wellness. A well-documented example of this is the link between diabetes and oral health. Diabetes affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and the difference good oral health care can make to the overall health of those with the condition can be significant. Taking care of one’s mouth can have an important longer-term influence on overall health and wellness. If you could give one tip or piece of advice about oral health, what would it be? Kell: It is never too early or too late to start looking after your mouth; your body will thank you! Adopting good oral hygiene habits, having a healthy diet that is low in sugar, quitting tobacco use, keeping away from excessive alcohol con- sumption, and having regular den- tal check-ups help protect the mouth and body at all ages. Kwant: I would recommend vis- iting the dental professional, espe- cially from a young age. I would like to encourage people to visit their dental professional or hygienist regularly and to follow his or her ad- vice. The two most common types of oral disease, tooth decay and per- iodontal disease, are completely preventable with an effective oral care routine, brushing for two min- utes twice a day. It is important to remember that good oral health is for life, not just for World Oral Health Day, and developing these habits from an early age can posi- tively impact on longer term health and wellness. Thank you both for the interview.