Share your smile on World Oral Health Day

THE KwaZulu-Natal Branch of Oral Hygienists Association of South Africa (OHASA) encourages Highway residents to celebrate the benefits of a healthy smile and mouth.

World Oral Health Day (WOHD) is celebrated every year on 20 March to promote worldwide awareness on the issues surrounding oral health and the importance of good oral hygiene to young and old.

WOHD provides the oral health and dental community with a platform to educate and help reduce global oral disease. It also helps raise awareness by encouraging individuals, families, communities and governments to take action.

It has been estimated that 90 per cent of the world’s population will suffer from oral diseases, and in most cases this can be avoided, by increasing awareness and funding required for prevention, detection and treatment programmes.

How can you protect your healthy smile, and the smiles of your loved ones?

– As a parent ensure that your child brushes his or her teeth every morning and evening after meals for two minutes. Children should use a soft toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.

– Parents are urged to assist small children, as they might not be able to brush properly.

– If you do not know how to brush correctly, ask your oral hygienist to show you the proper technique.

– Teeth should be flossed every evening, to ensure that all plaque build-up between teeth is removed. Your oral hygienist can also show you to floss properly.