320 World Oral Health Day Attention to the Oral Health During the Fight Against Covid-19 at Home

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 18 March 2022 - To celebrate the World Oral Health Day (WOHD) 2022 on March 20, the Society of Preventive Dentistry of Hong Kong (SPDHK) has called upon the Hong Kong public to look after their oral health for their happiness and well-being while staying at home during the pandemic. Good oral hygiene habits protect our oral health; it is closely related to our overall physical and mental health. Therefore, it is fundamental to the general quality of life for Hong Kong.

Dr. Chu, President of SPDHK, states that the theme of WOHD this year is "Be Proud of Your Mouth." Parents can set an example for their children to practice good oral hygiene during the early summer break. The pandemic has been affecting day-to-day life, and parents should take a proactive approach in teaching their children to adopt correct and healthy oral care habits. In order to convert routine tooth brushing at least twice a day into a fun activity for their children, parents can consider making brushing part of their family's interactive time. They can turn brushing into a game and let their children pretend to be a dentist to practice on them. Taking fun photos after brushing with smiles may help children enjoy brushing and develop some pride in their teeth.

In addition to regular dental check-ups, it is suggested to use fluoridated toothpaste for brushing in the morning and before bedtime. Dental floss or an interdental brush can also be used for cleaning between the teeth, and frequency of consuming sweet food should be reduced. Chewing sugar-free gum is also proven to benefit dental health by Fédération Dentaire Internationale (FDI World Dental Federation). Adult and children aged 4 or above can chew sugar-free gum. It helps stimulating saliva secretion to neutralize acidity in the mouth and preventing tooth decay*.

* Based on a review by the King's College London published in the JDR Clinical & Translational Research in July 2020, the sugar-free gum was found to reduce caries increment, giving it a preventative factor of 28%.