World Oral Health Day is March 20

World Oral Health Day is celebrated every year in March to raise awareness of the benefits of a healthy mouth as well as to promote worldwide awareness of the importance of oral hygiene. Organized by FDI World Dental Federation, WOHD is the largest global awareness campaign when it comes to oral health, designed to spread messages about good oral hygiene and risk-factor management to highlight the importance of optimal oral health.

Oral diseases affect most people at some point in their lives, as evidenced by an ever-increasing number of children with tooth decay, which leads to the development of early childhood cavities. Not only does this negatively affect how their young mouths develop, it creates long-lasting health issues for young children as they grow into adults.

Regular teeth cleanings form the foundation for good oral care.

Stats on Oral Health Care Around the World

• Oral disease affects nearly four billion people worldwide, with untreated tooth decay affecting about half of the world’s population.
• Globally, up to 90% of schoolchildren and nearly 100% adults have tooth decay.
• Gum disease, which could result in tooth loss when severe, is found in up to 20 percent of middle-aged adults.
• Periodontitis and untreated tooth decay in primary teeth are in the top 10 most prevalent of all conditions, affecting 20 percent of the global population.
• 30 percent of people ages 65–74 years have no natural teeth.
• Oral conditions are the 4th most expensive to treat, with $110 billion spent yearly in the U.S.
• Risk factors for oral disease include an unhealthy diet, tobacco use, excessive alcohol use and poor oral hygiene.
• Oral disease impacts every aspect of life, from self-confidence and relationships to school and work performance.

Oral Health Facts

• Worldwide sugar consumption has tripled in the last 50 years.
• Dental cavities are the most common chronic disease in the world.
• The World Health Organization says daily intake of sugars should be limited to less than 10 percent of total energy intake.
• Consuming free sugars more than four times a day results in an increased risk of dental caries or cavities.
• 65 countries around the world consume more than 100 grams of sugar per person per day.
• Quitting sugar consumption leads to withdrawal symptoms similar to those after getting off morphine or nicotine.
• Sugary drinks such as juice, soda, and energy drinks are a main source of empty calories – calories that have no nutritional value.
• Excessive consumption of sugars from processed foods, snacks and sugary drinks causes world-wide increases in oral diseases, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
• Sugars and acids contained in sugary drinks can weaken tooth enamel and cause dental caries.

Contact Studio City Dental

To schedule an appointment with your dentist for insight into your overall oral health, contact us at 818-762-2977 or fill out our online form.