We've all had those dreaded trips to the dentist but we also know that those trips were more than necessary. Unfortunately, in India, oral diseases are not taken as seriously as they should be. However, there are multiple other issues that arise when one suffers from an oral disease. It can affect growth, development, intellectual qualities, nutrition, communication, self-esteem and can even lead to various other health diseases. As of now, dental decay and gum diseases are two of the most prevalent oral diseases globally.
And most of these oral diseases have been neglected especially in the underprivileged areas because they have a negligible mortality rate. Even a lack of awareness about these diseases is a major contributor to irresponsible behaviour towards them. Most oral diseases have connections to health issues like bacterial endocarditis, coronary artery diseases, stroke, atherosclerosis, chronic obstructive lung disease, diabetes and preterm low birth weight.
To create more awareness about oral diseases, in 2013 the FDI (World Dental Federation) launched the World Oral Health Day on 20th March. It marked a year-long campaign to raise awareness about oral health and since then every year there are certain campaigns that take place to educate people about oral health. The government is also trying to make oral healthcare more affordable so that people in underprivileged areas get easier access to it. Stay tuned for more updates.
