Newsletter
HONG KONG/ KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia/ GENEVA, Switzerland: Numerous dental associations in Asia have begun preparations for World Oral Health Day (WOHD) this year, which is to be celebrated on 20 March, to promote the benefits of good oral health and hygiene worldwide. Among a number of public awareness campaigns and sponsored oral health-related events, the Malaysian Dental Association has announced its intent to break the Guinness World Record for the most people brushing their teeth at the same time at a public gathering in Kuala Lumpur. This record was previously held by the city of San Salvador, which saw more than 13,000 people brushing their teeth simultaneously in 2005.
In addition, a number of dental facilities throughout the continent will be offering free oral health checks and demonstrations that day. In Malaysia, Thailand and India particularly, the national dental associations will provide oral health promotion materials and products, such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, to schools and facilities for the underprivileged. Issues of oral health will be discussed with schoolchildren in Myanmar by the President of the FDI World Dental Federation, Dr Tin Chun Wong, and the CEO of personal care products manufacturer Unilever, Paul Polman, over Google’s instant messaging and video chat platform Hangouts.
Events promoting oral health will also be held in several Asian dental schools, including the University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Dentistry, which recently announced that it will be holding an oral health exhibition at the Prince Philip Dental Hospital to teach citizens of the SAR how to floss and brush their teeth properly.
People throughout the continent will also be able to obtain oral health information online through several campaigns running on social media platforms like Facebook and websites developed especially for WOHD.
Over 50 countries will be celebrating WOHD with oral-health-themed activities this year. Initiated in partnership with the American Dental Association, WOHD has been held annually since 2008. Previously celebrated on 12 September in honour of FDI founder Dr Charles Godon, it was decided last year to move it to 20 March. The organisation provides information about the event and all related activities on its WOHD website, where dental stakeholders can also download a toolkit to help them in planning their own WOHD activities.
