◦FDI World Dental Federation warns of the danger of increased sugar consumption during the festive period
◦The worldwide average of sugar intake is 30kg per person per year
◦Reducing sugar intake and practicing a good oral health care routine are key messages of World Oral Health Day 2014, which will be celebrated on the 20th of March,
Geneva, 23 December 2013 – The holiday season is upon us, and this very often means over indulging in traditional and often unhealthy food and drink. Whilst festive food varies wildly around the world from glazed pan dulce in Argentina, to candy canes in the United States or gingerbread houses in Germany, they all have one common denominator: a high sugar content.
The worldwide average sugar intake is around 30kg per person each year, an amount sufficiently high to cause severe health issues including tooth decay. These problems are accentuated during the festive season due to the high levels of sugar in traditional food and drink enjoyed in many countries around the world, and made worse by the excessive quantities often consumed at this time of year. A recent study has shown that during the holiday season, almost half of the population eats one and a half times more than normal, and a further 25% eat twice as much food as usual. Precisely because of this it’s especially important to limit the consumption of sugary foods and drinks this time of the year.
Over 60% of those participating in the study admitted that one of the main reasons for their overeating during the holidays was as a result of indulging in sugary sweets and treats.
Given these alarming statistics, Dr. Tin Chun Wong, FDI President, noted, “the least we can do to protect our teeth and gums from the onslaught of sugary substances is to reinforce our dental routine and remember to brush, floss, rinse, and chew every day”.
“We want to make sure everyone is aware of the dangers of overindulging in sugary foods during the festive period, and ensure they are aware of how to look after their teeth and gums” stated the FDI president. “For this reason FDI recommends following a simple oral health care routine in order to protect one’s teeth and keep a healthy smile”.
These guidelines form part of the World Oral health Day educational objectives and include suggestions such as: •Brush your teeth for two minutes at least two times a day – ideally with a fluoride toothpaste •Floss every day •Complete your dental routine with a mouth rinse or chew sugar-free gum after meals if unable to brush as well regular dental check-ups.
This is an important message to keep in mind not only during the holiday season, but throughout the year and especially on the 20th of March 2014 when the whole world will celebrate healthy smiles on World Oral Health Day.
Dr. Tin Chun Wong concluded, “we hope everyone enjoys the festive season, just remember that sugar never takes a holiday, your teeth will thank you!
About World Oral Health Day
World Oral Health Day is celebrated every year on 20th March. The theme of World Oral Health Day 2014 is ‘Celebrating Healthy Smiles’. It reflects the major contribution oral health makes to our lives. Around the world, FDI member dental associations, schools, companies and other groups will celebrate the day with events organized under this single, unifying and simple message.
FDI World Dental Federation serves as the principal representative body for more than one million dentists worldwide, developing health policy and continuing education programmes, speaking as a unified voice for dentistry in international advocacy, and supporting member associations in global oral health promotion activities. Over the years, it has developed programmes, initiatives, campaigns, policies and congresses, always with a view to occupying a space that no other not-for-profit group can claim.
FDI works at national and international level through its own activities and those of its member dental associations. It is in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) and a member of the World Health Professionals Alliance (WHPA).
For more information, visit: www.fdiworldental.org
World Oral Health Day 2014 partners
LISTERINE® brand Mouthwash, part of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies
LISTERINE® Mouthwash is the world’s number one daily mouthwash with antibacterial properties to clean the mouth, freshen breath and fight plaque. Over 50 clinical studies support the plaque reduction efficacy of LISTERINE® Mouthwash when used routinely as an adjunct to mechanical plaque removal. LISTERINE® Mouthwash has been used by more than one billion people in more than 85 countries. Professional dental organizations around the world have awarded LISTERINE® Mouthwash with their seals of acceptance.
LISTERINE® is distributed by Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., a part of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies, which is the world’s sixth-largest consumer health company and is a segment of Johnson & Johnson, the world’s most comprehensive and broadly based manufacturer of health care products.
Unilever Oral Care is a leading global manufacturer of oral care products, including toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouthwash, represented by brands including Signal, Pepsodent, Close Up, Mentadent, Aim, P/S and Zhong Hua. Unilever recognizes that good oral health and the sense of well-being and confidence it brings, is a vital element to making people look good, feel good and get more out of life and that small every day actions, such as twice daily brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, add up to make a big difference for the world. Through its science, products, partnerships and international network, Unilever Oral Care is privileged with the power to make a sustainable and measurable improvement to oral health around the world.
Henry Schein, Inc. is the world’s largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners. The Company also serves dental laboratories, government and institutional health care clinics, and other alternate care sites. A Fortune 500®<!–[if !supportFootnotes]–><!–[endif]–> Company and a member of the NASDAQ<!–[if !supportFootnotes]–><!–[endif]–> 100® Index, Henry Schein employs nearly 16,000 Team Schein Members and serves more than 775,000 customers.
The Company offers a comprehensive selection of products and services, including value-added solutions for operating efficient practices and delivering high-quality care. Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 96,000 branded products and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 110,000 additional products available as special-order items. The Company also offers its customers exclusive, innovative technology solutions, including practice management software and e-commerce solutions, as well as a broad range of financial services.
Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein has operations or affiliates in 25 countries. The Company’s sales reached a record USD 8.9 billion in 2012, and have grown at a compound annual rate of 17% since Henry Schein became a public company in 1995.
For more information, visit: www.henryschein.com
Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program
The Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program (WOHP) partners with dental professionals worldwide, helping them improve their patients’ oral health through one extra simple and enjoyable step in their daily routine: chewing sugarfree gum after eating and drinking on-the-go. For more than 25 years, WOHP has supported independent clinical research into the benefits of chewing gum, including saliva stimulation, plaque acid neutralization and tooth strengthening to help dental professionals and their patients understand the role of sugarfree gum as a convenient tool for everyday oral care. Today, Wrigley operates oral healthcare programs in 47 countries worldwide. WOHP is one example of how we make a difference to people and the planet through performance, and how we incorporate our principles based approach to business into all that we do.
For more information, visit: www.wrigleyoralcare.com
 Aviva, “New research by Aviva Health Insurance highlights the impact of Christmas eating habits on the health of the nation” Media Centre. Web 14 December 2013 http://www.aviva.ie/group/mediacentre/latestnews/avivahealthresearchhighlightschristmaseating/
 The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 U.S. closely held and public corporations as ranked by their gross revenue after adjustments made by Fortune to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies incur. The list includes publicly and privately held companies for which revenues are publicly available. The first Fortune 500 list was published in 1955.
 The NASDAQ Stock Market, commonly known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. NASDAQ originally stood for National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations. It is the second-largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalization, after the New York Stock Exchange. The exchange platform is owned by NASDAQ OMX Group, which also owns the OMX stock market network.
Sourced: FDI World Dental Federation
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