Kathmandu, March 20
World Oral Health Day was marked by organising various programmes here today.
The day was celebrated with the theme ‘Say Ahh: Think Mouth, Think Health’.
“With the aim to educate people about oral health, we organised various awareness programmes and free dental health check-up,” said Michael Devkota, a dental hygienist. He said many people in the country did not even know how to brush teeth and were ignorant about oral health.
“Ninety per cent people living in the city don’t know how to brush their teeth,” he said. The most common oral diseases are dental cavities, periodontal (gum) disease, oral cancer, oral infectious diseases, trauma from injuries, and hereditary lesions. “Nearly 80 per cent people in the country are facing oral health problems,” he said, adding that even three-year-old children were found experiencing swelling of gums.
According to the World Health Organisation, 60 to 90 per cent of schoolchildren and nearly 100 per cent adults have dental cavities which often leads to pain and discomfort. Severe periodontal (gum) disease, which may result in tooth loss, is found in 15 to 20 per cent of middle-aged persons.
Dental cavities and periodontal disease are major causes of tooth loss. Complete loss of natural teeth is widespread and it particularly affects old people. Globally, about 30 per cent of people aged between 65 to 74 have no natural teeth.
The incidence of oral cancer ranges from one to 10 cases per 100,000 people in most of the countries. Prevalence of oral cancer is relatively higher among men and old people. Oral cancer is also seen more among uneducated and poor people.
Almost 40 to 50 per cent people suffering from HIV-positive have oral fungal, bacterial or viral infections. Unhygienic food habit and consumption of junk food cause oral health problems. “The government needs to spread awareness among people of oral health problems,” said Devkota.
A version of this article appears in print on March 21, 2018 of The Himalayan Times.