All health begins in the mouth

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OPINION

By Dr Juliet Nabbanja Katumba

The world globally commemorates the oral health day on March 20.

This international day was established by the World Dental Federation (FDI).

The establishment of this day was an initiative of the world dental development and health promotion committee of FDI.

The very first World Oral Health Day was celebrated in 1994, the year the World Health Organisation (WHO) dedicated to oral health.

In May 2022, the WHO global strategy on oral health was adopted at the 75th World Health Assembly. A number of strategies were developed including the Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023-2030.

The plan translates into more than 100 action-oriented-interventions for stronger and more co-ordinated action on oral health.

Recommendations for more co-ordinated action on oral health emphasised:

• Co-ordination of increased public awareness for control of and prevention of oral diseases.
• Advocacy for integration of oral health within the NCD platform to benefit from funds dedicated to control of NCDs.
• WHO-member states addressing oral health on their national agenda with increased priority.

In an effort to align with the global trend Uganda has embarked on implementing the global oral health strategy. Increasing the awareness of the population about the importance of oral health when it comes to general health is most paramount.

One of the avenues to increase public awareness that is done in the week-long activities that precede the commemoration of World Oral Health Day. Since 2016, Uganda has been commemorating the World Oral Health Day in various districts, including Kayunga, Kampala, Mbarara, among others.

This year Uganda joins the world in marking WOHD with dental camps in five districts: Ntungamo, Rubanda, Rukiga and Kabale in Kigezi region and Jinja district.

The country’s adopted theme for the day is Good oral health for good general health.

Commemoration activities were carried out before March 20, 2024. Dental treatment camps were co-ordinated by the Ministry of Health and partners on March 11-19. Kigezi region has received oral health education and dental treatment while prevention of tooth decay in children has been launched with fluoride gel application on their teeth. The elderly population who have lost their teeth have got dentures (false teeth) to replace the missing teeth. Fluoride is a scientifically proven ingredient with the ability to reverse tooth enamel demineralisation.

Interventions of a preventive nature are very effective in lowering the burden of oral diseases, especially dental caries. Clinical/curative services are so burdened by the number of affected persons and it is now globally understood that clinical services alone will never lower the burden of tooth decay.

This year as we commemorate World Oral Health Day we wish to strengthen and promote prevention, especially of tooth decay with fluoride gel application on children’s teeth.

Rehabilitation services are equally essential. The oral health status of a country is determined by the number of persons with missing teeth.

We, therefore, intend to deliberately strengthen rehabilitation along with prevention as we provide curative services for total improvement of quality of life.

Oral health is often referred to as dental health. The latter is only a part of the former. It is important to appreciate all parts of the oral cavity as important, much as the teeth have consistently been the most affected and so the most attended to.

Good oral health is truly important for general health because feeding started in the mouth. Once someone cannot use their mouth for feeding they are fed through tubes and, therefore, declared sick/unwell in general health. The mouth is the mirror of the general body wellness.

A number of diseases manifest signs in the mouth (oral cavity). Anaemia, jaundice, diabetes, HIV, stress, pregnancy and many more can be detected by the dentist if they examine it closely during dental treatment.

Oral thrush on the tongue, characteristic of HIV infection, was a common scenario before anti-retroviral drugs were made available and often dentists were the first to suspect infection.

All health begins in the mouth, ensure you enjoy good oral health for good general health. Most drugs for treatment are taken through the mouth.

If one has a limited ability to open the mouth or swallow anything, the effect of the drug is compromised by non-adherence due to discomfort and the treatment outcomes are put at risk.

Visit your dentist early; don’t wait for pain. The long wait will translate into a huge bill that dentists are usually accused of. Practise preventive habits like brushing after meals and before going to bed, visit your dentist twice a year and avoid sticky sugary food and drinks.

You are your first help. Seek dental preventive treatment like scaling and polishing much more than going for extractions after a sleepless night. Prevent oral diseases by ensuring good oral hygiene.

The writer is the assistant commissioner for oral health in the Ministry of Health