On World Public Oral Health Day, March 20, and in conjunction with the Unified Gulf Week for Boosting the public Oral Health, 27 March - 2 April, Abu Dhabi Public Health Center (ADPHC) launches its campaign for this year, entitled "Make Prevention an Approach," as part of the Center's keenness to promote the prevention of oral diseases and reduce the burden of dental diseases in society through enhanced partnerships and the provision of evidence-based, awareness-raising materials to society.
During this period, the Center provides the most outstanding and scientifically proven guidance and advice on behaviors related to improving an individual's oral health. Besides, Abu Dhabi Public Health Center (ADPHC), in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Health Services Company-SEHA, is launching the project "Prevention of Early Childhood Caries," which aims to improve oral health through periodic child health visits.
This project includes virtual workshops, with training hours approved by the Abu Dhabi Health Service-SEHA, to build the capacity of non-dental healthcare providers to promote oral health as part of periodic health visits, from pre-pregnancy to early childhood, through which parents and pregnant women will be able to obtain the necessary information about the care and maintenance of their children's deciduous dental health. Also, through these visits, children will be referred for the first preventive examination by a dentist, at the age of one year, in accordance with international recommendations in this field.
In this regard, it should be noted that Abu Dhabi Public Health Center emphasizes the importance of deciduous/temporary teeth, as these serve the child for many years and also play an essential role in providing the child with healthy food, proper articulation, a proper smile, communication, the promotion of self-confidence, and there is a relationship between problems with deciduous/temporary teeth and school performance, as well as other consequences. The Center also calls on society and individuals to adopt a preventive approach to public oral health and to avoid risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and an unhealthy diet rich in sugars. Most oral diseases share the above-mentioned risk factors with the four chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes. Also, diabetes is reportedly linked to the development of gum disease, and there is a causal link between high consumption of sugar, diabetes, obesity, and tooth decay.
