20 March marks World Oral Health Day (WOHD) - the largest global awareness campaign on oral health. WOHD spreads messages about good oral hygiene practices to adults and children alike and demonstrates the importance of optimal oral health in maintaining general health and well-being.

This year's theme: ‘Say Ahh: Think Mouth, Think Health’ reinforces the crucial link between a healthy mouth, overall health and quality of life. The mouth is the mirror to the body and offers clues about the status of general health, revealing nutritional deficiencies and signs of other diseases. 

Many general health conditions increase the risk of oral diseases, such as diabetes increasing the risk of gum disease, and problems in the mouth can also negatively impact the rest of the body. Unhealthy diets (particularly high in sugar), tobacco use, and harmful use of alcohol, are common risk factors contributing to oral diseases and other diseases.

Free Resources

A wide range of promotional resources ideal for the public, patients and practices are available on the WOHD website at: www.worldoralhealthday.org

Launch of Australia's Oral Health Tracker

To mark World Oral Health Day today, the Australian Dental Association (ADA) and the Australian Health Policy Collaboration (AHPC) have launched Australia's Oral Health Tracker (the Tracker) at Parliament House in Canberra in the presence of parliamentarians and key leaders in the dental profession and health policy fields.  

Read the media release