Dental Health Week (DHW) is the Australian Dental Association’s (ADA)’s major annual oral health campaign. It takes place each year in the first full week of August and this year DHW will be August 3 – 9. The aim to educate Australians about the importance of maintaining good oral health by promoting four key messages:
• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Clean between your teeth daily using floss or interdental brushes.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet and limit sugar intake.
• Visit the dentist regularly for check-ups and preventive care.
Tempting as it is to think that everyone is practicing good oral health, the reality is that the oral health of many Australians is not where it should be.
• Less than 50% of Australians adults have had a dental check-up in the last 12 months.
• 53% of Australians brush their teeth only once-a-day.
• Nearly 40% never floss or clean between their teeth.
• 73% of young people (14-18 years) are consuming too much sugar.
• 47% of adults (18+ years) are consuming too much sugar.
More statistics on the oral health of Australian children and adults can be found in Australia’s Oral Health Tracker.
For more information, click here: ADA_OHP_Factsheet_hidden_sugar_4MAY2020