The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) supports World Oral Health Day 2022
Brussels, 17th March 2022: With poor oral health currently affecting nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide and more than 530 million children suffering from tooth decay in their primary teeth, World Oral Health Day, celebrated on 20th March, is key in raising awareness on the importance of keeping our mouth healthy for a better overall quality of life. With this in mind, the International Sweeteners Association (ISA) is proud to renew its support to the FDI World Dental Federation in the celebration of World Oral Health Day, with a dedicated animated video to promote good oral health.
In fact, an unhealthy mouth can severely impact every aspect of our everyday life, from chewing to swallowing, as well as talking, smiling, and even our physical, emotional, mental and social well-being.1
On the other hand, the good news is that while tooth decay is the most common health condition in the world, dental caries and most oral health conditions are largely preventable and can be treated in their early stages.1 This is why it is very important for every one of us to look after our oral health, for our happiness and overall well-being.
World Oral Health Day (WOHD) is therefore a key opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of good oral health, and on the occasion of WOHD 2022 the FDI World Dental Federation is calling on everyone to take meaningful action to help end the neglect of global oral health.1
Take action for your mouth and be proud
Achieving oral health is possible by practicing good oral hygiene. This includes:1
- Brushing our teeth for two minutes, twice a day, with a fluoride toothpaste;
- Visiting the dentist for regular check-ups and dental cleanings;
- Eating a well-balanced diet that is low in sugar and high in fruit and vegetables;
- Avoiding all forms of tobacco and limiting alcohol consumption;
- Chewing sugar-free gum after eating and drinking.
With this in mind, the ISA is proud to release a new animated video, developed in support of WOHD 2022 and of its key messages, aiming to further promote information from the FDI World Dental Federation for WOHD and the role that low/no calorie sweeteners can play in good oral health. Watch it below or by clicking here.
While excess sugar consumption can contribute to the development of dental caries2, unlike free sugars and other carbohydrates, low/no calorie sweeteners are not fermentable, which means they cannot cause dental caries or compromise oral health. As such, they can fit well within a tooth-friendly diet3,4,5 and have the benefits of adding sweetness and replacing sugars not only in food, drink and sugar-free chewing gum, but also in personal care products such as toothpaste and mouth washes.
Thanks to these properties, low/no calorie sweeteners enable food and drink manufacturers to reformulate products and support oral health by contributing to healthy food environments, as encouraged by governments at a global level.6,7,8 For more information on the role of low/no calorie sweeteners in oral health we invite you to download the dedicated infographic by clicking here or to read more in our dedicated factsheet on oral health, available here.
A healthy mouth doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be healthy. Take care of your mouth, of yourself, and be proud of it!
Engage in the conversation around World Oral Health Day 2022 on social media by using the dedicated hashtags: #ISA4WOHD, #WOHD22, #MouthProud, #MouthProudChallenge and #GoMouthProud.
