Oral health issues not only have an impact on the mouth but also on the mental well-being of a person.
This was highlighted by Head of the School of Dentistry, Dr Osea Dukuno during the World Oral Health Day celebration at Dudley Intermediate School.
Dr Dukuno says it is essential for people to have regular dental check-ups to understand the state of their oral health and other diseases that may show their symptoms through the mouth.
He says tooth decay and oral cavities are the major conditions affecting people of all age groups and there is a need to raise awareness with regards to oral hygiene.
Dr. Dukuno says drug abuse and diseases like HIV/AIDS also has some oral manifestations in the form of bleeding gums, blisters or bone loss around the teeth.
He adds one of the major challenges they face is that people are either afraid of visiting the dental clinics or wait for the last moment when the pain is unbearable to make use of dental facilities, and is urging people to let go of this fear and visit the dentists regularly.
Dr Dukuno says the Ministry of Health and Fiji National University support the training of future dentists and oral health professionals who will go out to communities and outer islands to practice and raise awareness about oral health.
Marketing Manager for Colgate Palmolive, Jyotika Devi says thousands of people across Fiji and the Pacific receive oral health education every year, and that collaboration is key to improving oral health outcomes.
She says they have been working with the Ministry of Education and others to educate students in schools and communities, and have visited the outer islands of the country and other islands in the region to promote good oral health practices.
Devi says they have supported initiatives which bring oral care products and services to under-served communities which include the distribution of free oral health care kits, school-based check-ups and community programs.
Students and teachers of Dudley Intermediate School held World Oral Health Day celebrations to mark this day, where they prepared skits, dances, and oratories to support this year's theme, ‘ A Happy Mouth is a Happy Mind.’
