Dublin, Cork host World Oral Health Day activities
by Guy Hiscott
World Oral Health Day 2016 (WOHD) kicked off to a bright start on 20 March as the Irish Dental Hygienists Association (IDHA) promoted oral health across Ireland.
Dental hygienists and IDHA members manned stands at Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre in Dublin and Wilton Shopping Centre in Cork, offering oral health advice to the public with leaflets and free toothbrushes.
Louise Fleming, president of the IDHA, was at the stand in Cork along with Claire Palmer, a first year dental hygiene student from the University College Cork, and Will Yllera, a dental hygienist from San Francisco.
She said: ‘This was the first year that the IDHA took part in this initiative from the FDI World Dental Federation.
‘We did toothbrushing demonstrations, and offered advice on gum health, diet, smoking cessation and oral cancer – to mention just a few! It was fantastic to meet people going about their daily lives in the shopping centre and being able to give some them some quick oral health advice. Hopefully they all went home eager to brush and floss!
‘We also had a great trade support,’ she continued. ‘Colgate gave us toothpaste samples, Tepe donated toothbrushes and Wrigleys donated lots of chewing gum. The Dental Health Foundation Ireland was also a great asset, as they sent us a care package with posters and leaflets, so anyone who stopped by the stand went home with a goody bag full of useful oral health aids and information.’
Celebrated every year on 20 March, WOHD is an international event that celebrates the benefits of a healthy mouth. To find out more about WOHD 2016 visit the website at www.worldoralhealthday.com.
