World Oral Health Day is observed annually on 20 March, and launches a year-long campaign dedicated to raising global awareness of the issues around
oral health
Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions of ...
and the importance of
oral hygiene
Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping one's mouth clean and free of disease and other problems (e.g. bad breath) by regular brushing of the teeth (dental hygiene) and cleaning between the teeth. It is important that oral hygiene be carried out ...
so that governments, health associations and the general public can work together to achieve healthier mouths and happier lives.
Of the
world's population, 90% will suffer from oral diseases in their lifetime, many avoidable.
Organized by
FDI World Dental Federation
FDI World Dental Federation, often shortened to FDI (french: Fédération Dentaire Internationale), is the world's leading organization representing the dental profession. It serves as the principal representative body for over one million dent ...
, World Oral Health Day involves campaigns by
national dental associations from around the world with activities in over 130 countries.
History
World Oral Health Day was launched on 20 March 2013 by
FDI World Dental Federation
FDI World Dental Federation, often shortened to FDI (french: Fédération Dentaire Internationale), is the world's leading organization representing the dental profession. It serves as the principal representative body for over one million dent ...
. The day also marks the launch of a year-long campaign to raise awareness of oral health and prevention of oral diseases. Since 2013 these campaigns have featured a specific theme.
Dental Students Competition
Since 2014 and in collaboration with its daughter organization, the
International Association of Dental Students
The International Association of Dental Students (IADS) is a non-governmental organization representing interests of dental students worldwide. It was founded in August 1951 in Copenhagen, Denmark, and currently has more than 200,000 students fr ...
(IADS), FDI organizes an annual worldwide competition for best awareness and prophylactic activities held by dental student organizations in celebration of World Oral Health Day.
Winners of WOHD Dental Students Competition:
* 2014:
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...
and
Sudan
* 2015:
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in ...
and
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the A ...
* 2016:
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...
,
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and K ...
(
Kurdistan
Kurdistan ( ku, کوردستان ,Kurdistan ; lit. "land of the Kurds") or Greater Kurdistan is a roughly defined geo-cultural territory in Western Asia wherein the Kurds form a prominent majority population and the Kurdish culture, languages ...
) and Egypt
* 2017:
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
, Egypt, Sudan and
Palestine
In February 2017, IADS launched WOHD Portal for organizing digitally the
application and reviewing process of its national and local member organizations
action plans
Action may refer to:
* Action (narrative), a literary mode
* Action fiction, a type of genre fiction
* Action game, a genre of video game
Film
* Action film, a genre of film
* ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford
* ''Action'' (1980 f ...
and final reports.
World Oral Health Day Themes
*2013: Healthy Teeth for Healthy Life
*2014: Brush for a Healthy Mouth!
*2015: Smile for Life!
*2016: It All Starts Here. Healthy mouth. Health body.
*2017: Live Mouth Smart
*2018: Say Ahh: Think Mouth, Think Health
*2019: Say Ahh: Act On Mouth Health
*2020: Say Ahh: Unite for Mouth Health
*2021 - 2023: Be Proud of Your Mouth
See also
*
FDI World Dental Federation
FDI World Dental Federation, often shortened to FDI (french: Fédération Dentaire Internationale), is the world's leading organization representing the dental profession. It serves as the principal representative body for over one million dent ...
*
International Association of Dental Students (IADS)
References
{{Reflist
External links
World Oral Health DayFDI World Dental FederationWorld Oral Health Day 2016International Association of Dental Students
March observances
Oral Health
Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions of ...