DH calls on public to prioritise oral and overall health by reducing sugar intake in support of National Love Teeth Day
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The National Health Commission has designated September 20 every year as National Love Teeth Day. The theme of this year is "Oral Health for Overall Health: Reduce Sugar Intake for Weight Management; Improve Oral Health for General Health". Through the activities of Love Teeth Day, the campaign aimed to further enhance public awareness that oral health is a vital component of overall health. By increasing publicity and education on oral disease prevention, promulgating oral health knowledge, and encouraging the public to adopt healthy lifestyle to proactively protect their teeth and reduce sugar consumption, it can effectively help the population in improving both oral and overall health.
The DH's Oral Health Promotion Division (OHPD) has curated a short video to promote the importance of oral health and overall health. Additionally, the Bright Smiles Mobile Classroom (Mobile Classroom) will visit various districts across Hong Kong to disseminate dental care information. The Mobile Classroom will be stationed at Haiphong Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, tomorrow (September 20) for the public to visit and learn more about oral health and dental services in Hong Kong. (The event will end early or be cancelled if Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above, or a Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is in force tomorrow.)
The Consultant in-charge, Dental Services of the DH, Dr Kitty Hse, stated, "Oral health is closely related to overall health. Oral diseases share common risk factors with many chronic diseases. Healthy eating habits are an essential part of implementing the Healthy China Action Plan (2019-2030). Individuals should control sugar intake, reduce eating frequency in their diets, and avoid smoking and alcohol consumption. Establishing good oral hygiene and dietary habits from an early age is beneficial for tooth development, preventing common oral diseases like dental decay and periodontal disease, as well as preventing chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Everyone, regardless of age and gender, should have annual dental check-ups for early detection and treatment of oral diseases. Tooth loss can lead to chewing difficulties and may adversely affect overall health in the long term. Therefore, preserving natural teeth is crucial, particularly for the elderly."
In the "The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address", it was announced that the Government will bolster public and subsidised dental services by enhancing oral health education, oral hygiene instructions and risk assessments in the community to help people of all ages self-manage their oral health and establish good oral hygiene habits and lifestyles. Even if individuals perceive their oral health as good, they can undergo risk assessments to identify potential risks of dental diseases early, thereby practicing prevention, early identification and early intervention to further enhance oral health and overall health.
To encourage the prevention of dental diseases among adolescents, the DH launched the Primary Dental Co-care Pilot Scheme for Adolescents (PDCC) in March this year. This initiative encourages young people to receive regular dental check-ups and preventive dental care from the private sector. Subsidised dental services include dental check-ups, oral health risk assessments, dental scaling, personalised self-care advice on oral care, and fluoride application based on the result of oral health risk assessments. As of the end of August, over 3 300 adolescents have received subsidised services of the PDCC.
Additionally, the Community Dental Support Programme (CDSP) launched by the DH in May this year will expand its beneficiaries list to include the homeless and broaden its service scope starting from next year. Beyond the existing services of oral health assessments, medication for dental pain relief, X-ray examination and dental fillings or extractions, new service items, namely dental scaling, root canal treatment, removal of bridges or crowns and removable denture fittings will be introduced. This will provide more preventive and curative subsidised dental services for underprivileged groups with financial difficulties. As of the end of August, over 2 300 eligible individuals have participated in the CDSP.
Members of the public can visit the OHPD's website, "愛牙 Love Teeth HK" Facebook page and YouTube channel, the webpages of the PDCC and the CDSP for more information on oral health and the programmes.
Ends/Friday, September 19, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:35
Issued at HKT 19:35
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