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2024 World Oral Health Day marked at UGMC
The University Ghana Medical Centre Ltd (UGMC) joined the rest of the world to celebrate World Oral Health Day, 20th March 2024 under the global theme "A Happy Mouth, is a Happy Body". The event was organized to help raise awareness about the importance of good oral health and its impact on the overall well-being of individuals.
The main speaker for the event was Dr. Randall Jonnie Adjei, a dentist with the UGMC and an oral health expert. Dr. Adjei stressed the significance of daily oral hygiene practices such as brushing and flossing, along with the importance of regular dental check-ups. He also highlighted the connection between oral health and general health and emphasized that a healthy mouth is key to a healthy body.
At the end of his presentation, his colleague Dr. David Obeng, a dental surgeon at UGMC, joined him for an interactive session with the audience. During the interactive session, the audience got to know that not all white teeth were necessarily healthy and that tooth discolouration could also occur as part of the natural ageing process.
The dental experts proceeded to share the under-listed nuggets for the attainment of excellent oral hygiene with the audience:
- Brushing teeth twice a day for two minutes each time and re-brushing if the individual yields to cravings after brushing at night.
- Flossing daily to remove plaque between teeth and along the gumline.
- Using fluoride toothpaste to strengthen tooth enamel.
- Limiting sugary and acidic foods to protect your teeth from decay.
- Staying hydrated promotes saliva production, aiding in oral health.
- Replacement of toothbrushes every 3-4 months or sooner if bristles are frayed.
- Visiting your dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings.
- Avoiding tobacco products, as they contribute to oral health issues.
- Chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva and reduce plaque.
- Wearing mouthguards during sports to protect your teeth from injuries.
As part of the celebrations, free oral health screenings were offered to the public. The purpose of the free oral screening was to detect existing oral health issues and to educate participants on preventive measures to maintain optimal oral health.
About 50 people took advantage of the free oral screening exercise.
