Minister of Health, Dr the Hon Hubert A Minnis, as he addressed the Bahamas Dental Association's Annual Scientific Conference. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)
NASSAU,
The Bahamas --- Proper oral health is “an
important component” of overall wellbeing and “must be practiced” at an early
age, Minister of Health, Dr the Hon Hubert A Minnis affirmed.
Poor oral hygiene can negatively
impact the overall quality of a person’s life as painful gums, missing teeth
and oral infections affect and influence physical, mental and social
well-being, he said.
Dr Minnis was speaking at the
recent Bahamas Dental Association's Annual Scientific Conference.
He said dental health officials
continue to implement new strategies and policies in the promotion of proper
oral hygiene as a means of combating dental decay and diseases which remain
“the most common childhood oral health conditions” affecting Bahamian children.
“Proper oral hygiene which
includes mouth-care and the practice of keeping the oral cavity clean is one of
the best means of preventing dental caries and related disorders,” Dr Minnis
added.
To facilitate awareness of, and
help combat the problem, the Ministry of Health, through the Department of
Public Health’s Oral Health Unit, has undertaken a number of initiatives
designed to “bring focused attention” in the promotion of better oral hygiene
for Bahamians, he said.
Proper nutrition, when combined
with proper oral hygiene, also “plays a vital role” in combating oral diseases
and preserving teeth, he said. And these practices should begin at home and at
an early age and continued into adulthood.
“This would ensure the
facilitation of good health, while improving the quality of life,” Dr Minnis
said.
Dental health officials have
designed an interactive education and awareness campaign that is expected to
result in improved oral care.
The campaign has targeted younger
members of the population, particularly primary school children.
Activities have included school
visits, dental screenings at Community Clinics, dissemination of educational
materials, and distribution of toothbrush kits.
“These activities reinforced our
belief in the importance of people developing good dental habits from the
earliest age,” Dr Minnis said.
Dental diseases are “largely
preventable”, and the treatment is expensive, he added.
