’90 % of Global Population Prone to Dental Diseases’
Zacheaus Somorin An estimated 90 per cent of the global population are currently exposed to dental health problems, so governments the world over, health associations and society must increase their support and funding for prevention, detection and treatment of oral challenges to reverse the trend.
This was said recently by the president of the Nigerian Dental Association, Dr Olabode Ijarogbe while addressing a press conference heralding this year’s World Oral Health Day (WOHD).
According to him, the WOHD is a day set aside ‘to celebrate the benefits of a healthy mouth and to promote worldwide awareness of the issues around oral health and the importance of looking after oral hygiene to everyone, irrespective of age.’
He noted that the theme of this year’s event, ‘Smile For Life’ was aimed at wishing everybody a lifelong and healthy smile at all ages’ saying the theme “implies positivity and having fun as people only smile if they are happy and have a healthy life.”
He called on all stakeholders to play their part in raising the awareness of the vulnerability of man to dental challenges.
“The WOHD is important because an estimated 90 per cent of the world population will suffer from oral diseases in their lifetime many of which can be avoided with increased governmental, health associations and society support and funding .”
Ijarogbe said the efforts of the dental association is now being felt as there is appreciable increase in the number of Nigerians that visit dentists to have their mouths checked as against what was obtainable in the past when people only visited dentists when their condition had worsened.