World Oral Health Day
Every year, the FDI World Dental Federation hosts World Oral Health Day to bring together dental professionals, patients, and health organisations to share their knowledge.
As dental professionals, you understand the importance of looking after your teeth from a young age and how it can improve wellbeing. In doing so, we can enable people to eat, speak, and smile with confidence.
This year's theme is "Be Proud of Your Mouth". We thought we'd look at how you can use this to give patients the tools and understanding to take care of their teeth.
What is the FDI World Dental Federation?
The FDI World Dental Federation represents over a million dentists worldwide. Founded in 1900, it is the oldest and largest dental organisation in the world.
As the primary representative body, it:
develops health policies and CPD programmes
advocates for dentistry on a global scale
helps member associations promote oral health.
Why do we need World Oral Health Day?
As dentists, we all know how important looking after your teeth is for health and wellbeing.
Tooth decay is the most common health condition in the world, but it is preventable.
Oral Health Day is a chance to engage with patients, schools, and communities to encourage good oral health and preventative care.
You can also share ideas, showcase new developments, and advocate for policies prioritising oral health (such as adding dental health to the school curriculum).
Talking with sensitivity
Most oral health conditions are preventable and can be treated in their early stages.
However, it can be a sensitive topic, and it's important to approach these conversations with empathy and understanding. Here are some tips for talking about oral health:
Use inclusive language. To help the patient feel comfortable, try to use language that is inclusive. Recognise that genetics, access to healthcare, and socioeconomic status can influence oral hygiene.
Focus on building healthy habits. Talk about things your patient can do themselves to help their oral health. Small lifestyle changes could include regular brushing, a healthy diet, and regular check-ups.
Be an active listener. We all like to feel heard. You can put them at ease by listening to any worries or questions they may have and responding with empathy. Some people may have had bad dental care experiences and need extra support.
Be respectful. It goes without saying, but always respect their privacy and personal boundaries. It can be easy to make assumptions, but there are often other factors that can influence a person's dental health or lifestyle choices.
Provide resources. As dentists, we have the ability to help our patients help themselves. There are plenty of resources you can offer on accessing dental care or tips for good oral hygiene. We’ve included a few of our favourites below!
Useful resources
Public Health England: health matters child dental health - preventing tooth decay in children under 5.
Children’s Oral Health: healthcare e-learning - aimed at parents, early years healthcare workers, teachers, nurses, GPs and the public.
Downloadable ‘Be Proud of Your Mouth’ fact sheets:
Remember, we can make conversations about oral health a positive experience. By working together to play our part, we can help to create healthy smiles for everyone.
Find out how we can help you advance your dentistry career.
