World Oral Health Day 2023

20 Mar 2023

It's World Oral Health Day (WOHD) 2023 today!

It is now into the final year of the three-year Be Proud of Your Mouth campaign, which sends out the message to people all over the world to value and take care of their mouths.

After all, no matter your age, caring for your mouth and looking after your oral health is vital for good health and quality of life.

And our Masters in Dental Public Health team couldn't agree more! 

That is why this year, we are calling on you and your loved ones to Be Proud of Your Mouth for a lifetime of smiles.

#WorldOralHealthDay 

6 Top Tips for good oral health from our Dental School and Hospital

We have become somewhat obsessed with ultra-white, sparkly teeth. Seems everyone has had some beauty work done. Dr Patrice James, Senior Lecturer at the Dental School and Hospital says people may think a 'perfect Hollywood' white smile equals a healthy mouth but that's not always true – “this kind of messaging can distract from good oral health care”.

Dr. James shares her six top tips for good oral health.

1. Brush your teeth thoroughly last thing at night and at least one other time each day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste. Not only will this help to keep your breath fresh and your gums healthy by reducing bacteria build-up in your mouth; the fluoride will help prevent tooth decay.

2. To keep both your mouth and your body healthy, keep consumption of sweet foods and drinks to a minimum. Avoid snacking on sweet foods or having sweet drinks between meals. Whole fruits, vegetables and cheese are tooth-friendly snacks. Water and milk are tooth-friendly drinks.

3. Reduce consumption of acidic drinks including sugar-free or diet drinks and juices as they can dissolve tooth enamel.

4. To protect your smile, wear a well-fitting mouth guard/gum shield when playing contact sports.

5. Do not smoke and reduce your alcohol intake to protect both your oral health and your general health.

6. The recommended frequency for visiting the dentist for a check-up should be based on your risk of developing oral diseases. For adults, the interval between dental check-ups could range from six months for those at high risk to two years for those at low risk. Children may need a different interval between dental check-ups. Check with your dentist to see what’s best for you and your family.

'Be Proud of Your Mouth for a lifetime of Smiles'

To see what children should be eating for a lifetime of smiles, click on the following links to the Safefood food pyramids.

Children aged 5 and Over:

https://assets.hse.ie/media/documents/food-pyramid-simple-version.pdf

 Children aged 1 to 4-year-olds:

https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/93351/bc5bec36-1748-4b0e-b356-300a25f018d5.pdf#page=null