World Oral Health Day 2014: a focus on protecting the teeth and mouth throughout life

• A World Day for a global issue: oral health
   
• FDI World Dental Federation presents a stylish and memorable new World Oral Health Day logo
   
• LISTERINE®, Unilever, Henry Schein and Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program become the official global partners for World Oral Health Day 2014

FDI World Dental Federation is gearing up for the celebration of World Oral Health Day 2014 (WOHD 2014), which will be held on the 20th March. Celebrated around the world, WOHD 2014 focus is on reminding young and old of the importance of protecting the teeth and mouth throughout life.

“Over 90% of the world’s population will suffer some form of dental disease in their lifetime but many of these can easily be treated or prevented with a good oral care routine,” commented FDI President Dr. Tin Chun Wong. “There are more than 2 million oral health care professionals around the world and in 2014 we hope that they will join together with us and our partners, to make World Oral Health Day a worldwide success.”

To kick-off the 2014 campaign, FDI is today presenting a revamped WOHD logo. The re-vitalized image represents a happy, healthy smile that transmits the essence of World Oral Health Day, a day where everyone around the world can take part in celebrating healthy smiles.

The new logo presented today will be accompanied by a creative campaign that celebrates the positive things that can be enjoyed when one has a healthy mouth such as laughing, eating or kissing. “We want to celebrate healthy smiles,” stated FDI’s Executive Director Jean-Luc Eiselé, reiterating this year’s campaign claim. “The vitality of the smile seen in our new logo is the same vitality that we want to see in everyone’s face on World Oral Health Day, be it in Nepal, Croatia or Chile. We want to spread the message of good oral health and the importance of a good oral care routine to local communities around the world and reduce the suffering and burden of oral disease.”

In addition, FDI confirmed that World Oral Health Day 2014 will be supported by four key global partners: Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies, Unilever, Henry Schein and Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program. The former two were partners in 2013 and are back in 2014.

“World Oral Health Day is key to raising awareness across the globe of oral health issues; however, it would be impossible to achieve the necessary global impact without the help of our partners,” emphasized the FDI President.

About World Oral Heath Day World Oral Health Day is celebrated every year on 20th March. The theme of World Oral Health Day 2014 is ‘Celebrating Healthy Smiles’. It reflects the major contribution oral health makes to our lives. Around the world, FDI member dental associations, schools, companies and other groups will celebrate the day with events organized under this single, unifying and simple message.

About FDI FDI World Dental Federation serves as the principal representative body for more than one million dentists worldwide, developing health policy and continuing education programmes, speaking as a unified voice for dentistry in international advocacy, and supporting member associations in global oral health promotion activities. Over the years, it has developed programmes, initiatives, campaigns, policies and congresses, always with a view to occupying a space that no other not-for-profit group can claim.

FDI works at national and international level through its own activities and those of its member dental associations. It is in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) and a member of the World Health Professionals Alliance (WHPA).

For more information, visit: www.fdiworldental.org

Two esteemed and far-reaching dental meetings were held in August: the International Symposium on Dental Hygiene in South Africa and the FDI Annual World Dental Congress in Turkey. In addition to attending robust scientific sessions, thousands of the world’s dental professionals had the opportunity to see, test and sample the latest innovations and products to help them in their practice, including one extra, simple tool to improve their patients’ preventive oral care: Wrigley sugarfree gum.

At each meeting, an interactive Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program (WOHP) booth guided delegates through information stations to discover the science behind sugarfree gum and identify on-the-go moments during the day when gum can help protect teeth.  Chewing sugarfree gum increases the production of saliva, which can help neutralize plaque acid, wash away food particles and remineralize tooth enamel to strengthen teeth.

Dental professionals from around the globe tested their knowledge with our Chew IQ quiz, and experienced the oral care benefits of Wrigley sugarfree gum first-hand, enjoying free samples after each of the WOHP-sponsored refreshment breaks. What’s more, nearly 1,000 delegates signed our Pledge Wall, committing to educate their patients about the importance of chewing sugarfree gum as part of a preventive oral care routine that also includes brushing, flossing and regular check-ups. For each signature, WOHP will donate to charities that help improve the oral care of children worldwide.

                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                      Visitors take the Chew IQ Quiz