Medically Reviewed by Jilian Lopiano
Table of Contents
One of the most important issues in public health is dental cavities. Considered the most widespread chronic disease in the world, it is a problem that not only affects the teeth but can cause pain and systemic infections when left untreated.
In order to making the population aware of the importance of cavity prevention, World Cavity Free Future Day or WCFFDay arose, which is commemorated on October 14. Next, we will be telling you everything about this day.
Cavities, a chronic and preventable disease
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 60% and 90% of school-age children around the world and almost 100% of adults have cavities. This chronic disease is considered the most common in the world, despite being preventable.
Daily brushing with a fluoride toothpaste has been shown to be the most effective way to prevent cavities and tooth decay. Together with using dental floss, brushing is essential to having clean teeth free of food residue.
However, despite this, many adults keep not brushing their teeth regularly, nor correctly. And, therefore, they do not maintain daily cleaning habits in their children for proper brushing after eating.
Virtually everyone with teeth can get cavities, even babies. If left untreated, cavities could be spreading into the deeper layers of the teeth and cause severe pain, infection, tooth sensitivity, visible holes in the teeth, brown or black stains on the tooth surface, and loss of the affected tooth.
In addition, cavities could cause other diseases such as infections that destroy the soft tissues and bone that support the teeth.
What is WCFF Day?
World Cavity Free Future Day is an initiative of the Alliance for a Cavity Free Future (ACFF) in 2016 with the mission to addressing the need for increased awareness of dental caries around the world.
The ACFF focuses on other conditions that result from poor dental health to be raising awareness of best practices for the prevention and management of cavities and the diseases it causes.
The WCFFDay is commemorated worldwide, with activities supported by governments and partner organizations, which are committed to dental health to implementing local projects such as educational events, free dental consultations, fluoride application, professional seminars, school activities, among others.
The WCFFDay main purpose is to be engaging communities around the world in a global initiative to encourage action towards a cavity-free future.
World Day for a Cavity-Free Future and the importance of prevention
Through WCFFDay, the aim is making the population aware of the importance of brushing teeth and a change in behavior regarding oral health, promoting habits such as:
- Tooth brushing with correct technique, with fluoridated toothpaste and flossing every day, at least twice a day.
- Reducing excessive consumption of sugars, which are the main causes of tooth decay.
- Avoiding the use of tobacco.
- Visiting the dentist in Tijuana for a review at least twice a year.
ACFF recommendations to preventing dental cavities
- Avoid consuming more than 50 g of sugar per day.
- Reducing food consumption between meals
- Brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day.
- Using dental floss or an interdental brush.
- Brushing well to remove plaque from the tooth surface, making sure to reach hard to reach spots in the back of the mouth and brushing for more than two minutes.
Factors involved in the development of cavities
In addition to brushing and dental hygiene, there are other factors involved in the development of cavities. The first is the family history, since it is more frequent that women´s children with cavities also develop them. Another factor is the oral environment: the living microorganisms or bacteria present in the organism, the dental morphology, and the resistance to demineralization.
In addition, the number of visits to the dentist and the frequency is key for the timely detection and treatment of oral diseases in their early stages.
Make your smile shine! This is the time to visit your dentist
From The Dental District we want you to be acting before it’s too late. Schedule your appointment at your dental clinic in Tijuana to preventing cavities as well as maintaining a healthy and disease-free smile.
Write us through our contact form to schedule your appointment. We are ready to assist you. Ask about our best services such as invisalign in Tijuana, dental implants in Mexico, dental crowns in Tijuana and endodontics in Tijuana.