Today (12 May) is Gum Health Day! This year, the campaign is focusing on the often-overlooked health of Generation Z’s gums.
Gum Health Day is an international awareness campaign held every year on 12 May. It was initiated by the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) 10 years ago to increase public awareness of the negative impact of gum disease and the serious health problems associated with it.
This year’s campaign is targeted towards Gen Z and has the slogan: ‘Gums rock! Keep them safe!’
The EFP said that due to increased sugar consumption, along with rising levels of anxiety and stress, teenagers and young adults are increasingly susceptible to gum disease.
Dr Mia Rakic is the coordinator of Gum Health Day 2024. She said: ‘This year, our target audience is Generation Z! We felt that we needed to target Gum Health Day 2024 at young people. As they are not necessarily aware of the role played by their gum health in their overall health, they may feel less concerned about them.
‘We want to help young people to recognise the pivotal role their gums play in self-esteem and overall wellbeing. Our campaign aims to inspire young people to lead a positive change in how society views gum health, emphasising its importance beyond oral hygiene. It will also shed light on the work of the dental team.’
‘A healthy smile can pave the way to a healthier lifestyle’
The EFP highlighted the significance of the gums in overall health. Gum disease is associated with serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, autoimmune disease and certain cancers. The federation said: ‘By taking care of our gums, we can easily start preventing those problems right away. A healthy smile can pave the way to a healthier lifestyle and save money in the future.’
The British Society of Periodontology & Implant Dentistry (BSP) is also supporting the Gum Health Day campaign. BSP president Professor Philip Preshaw said: ‘As a society, we strive to raise awareness of the importance of gum health to the public, patients, dental and medical professionals. Each year, we support Gum Health Day and we will be encouraging our members and dental practices to promote this important campaign in their waiting rooms and to their patients.’
The BSP will also be working with undergraduate dental hygiene and therapy students to distribute patient information leaflets in public.
Dental professionals are encouraged to get involved with promoting Gum Health Day 2024. A leaflet on how to participate is available here.
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