Overview:
The Ministry of Health celebrates the Gulf Oral Health Week from March 25th up to 31st, 2024, during which everyone must take meaningful action to end dental neglect and pay attention to oral care. We must cooperate on a global scale to raise awareness, improve education, stimulate personal and collective action on the importance of oral health, and cooperate to spread knowledge to encourage as many people as possible to take care of their mouths and protect their quality of life. An unhealthy mouth not only affects overall health but can have a severe impact on people's social, mental, and general physical lives, which is why we call on people to be proud of their mouths for their happiness and well-being, so the Ministry seeks to do everything that reduces the incidence of oral and dental diseases.
The Gulf Oral Health Week is important to reinforce the fact that oral and dental health is a major health concern for many countries, and negatively affects people throughout their lives. Oral diseases lead to pain, discomfort, social isolation, and loss of self-confidence, and are often associated with other serious health problems. However, most oral health conditions are largely preventable and can be treated in their early stages.
Objectives:
- Encouraging healthy, low-sugar nutrition and combating smoking.
- Encouraging regular dental examinations.
- Awareness of the importance of taking care of oral and dental hygiene.
Facts:
- Oral diseases that have the greatest impact on overall health and quality of life are tooth decay, severe gum disease, and tooth loss.
- More than half of children between the ages of 6 and 8 have cavities in at least one of their (primary) teeth.
- More than half of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 19 have cavities in at least one of their permanent teeth.
- Children aged 5 to 19 years from low-income families are more likely to develop tooth decay (25%), compared to children from high-income families (11%).
- Tobacco use and diabetes are two risk factors for gum disease.
Official Date:
Globally: March 25th-31st, 2024.
Locally: Ramadan 15th-21st, 1445H.