This Gum Health Day, commit to prioritize your oral health for better overall health
This Gum Health Day, let’s prioritize our oral health, recognizing its profound impact on our overall well-being. Explore the resources of the Global Periodontal Health project.
Gum health day, observed each year on 12th May, aims to raise awareness of a prevalent yet underestimated oral health condition: gum disease. Also known as periodontal disease, this condition has far reaching consequences as it is associated with numerous serious noncommunicable diseases, significantly impacting global health.
According to estimates provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), severe periodontal diseases affect approximately 19% of the global adult population, surpassing a staggering one billion cases worldwide.
Take care of your gums for your overall health and well-being
Gum disease is not merely about maintaining a healthy smile; it is intricately linked to overall well-being. Research has established strong associations between gum disease and various systemic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Recognizing the severity of the issue, the FDI Global Periodontal Health Project Task Team has developed diverse resources for dentists, dental teams and patients to help them increase awareness of periodontal disease. Most recently, they produced a video explaining the critical significance of using the 2017 Periodontal Staging, Grading and Classification system. This updated classification system is designed to facilitate comprehensive treatment strategies and to foster a patient-centric approach to oral healthcare.
Other resources include a chairside guide for dentists and dental teams, a toolkit to design and implement successful advocacy campaigns for improved periodontal health, an online disease profile assessment tool for patients, and more.
FDI encourages dental professionals and patients to consult the available resources and take proactive preventive measures to reduce the burden of gum disease.