{{Short description|Annual holiday observed on 20 March}} {{Infobox holiday |holiday_name = World Oral Health Day |type = |image = Ashwini Kumar Choubey addressing at the release of the Manuals on Oral Health Promotion for school teachers and health workers, on the occasion of World Oral Health Day, in New Delhi.jpg |imagesize = |caption = A World Oral Health Day event in New Delhi |official_name = |nickname = |observedby = |litcolor = |longtype = |significance = |begins = |ends = |date = 20 March |scheduling = same day each year |duration = 1 day |frequency = annual |celebrations = |observances = |relatedto = }} '''World Oral Health Day''' is observed annually on 20 March, and launches a year-long campaign dedicated to raising global awareness of the issues around oral health and the importance of oral hygiene so that governments, health associations and the general public can work together to achieve healthier mouths and happier lives.<ref name=ADX>{{cite web|url= http://www.adx.org.au/world.oral.health.day|title= World Oral Health Day - 20 March 2016|year= 2016|accessdate= 2016-04-13|archive-date= 2017-06-12|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170612004419/http://www.adx.org.au/world.oral.health.day|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=World Oral Health Day |url=https://www.worldoralhealthday.org/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=www.worldoralhealthday.org}}</ref>

Of the world's population, 90% will suffer from oral diseases in their lifetime, many avoidable.<ref name="WOHD">{{cite web |url= http://www.worldoralhealthday.com/about-wohd/|title= About WOHD|year=2016|accessdate=2016-04-13}}</ref> Organized by FDI World Dental Federation, World Oral Health Day involves campaigns by national dental associations from around the world with activities in over 130 countries.<ref name="Dental_Tribune">{{cite web |url= http://www.dental-tribune.com/articles/news/europe/23073_over_100_countries_celebrate_world_oral_health_day.html|title= Over 100 countries celebrate World Oral Health Day|year=2016|accessdate=2016-04-13}}</ref>

==History==

World Oral Health Day was launched on 20 March 2013 by FDI World Dental Federation. The day also marks the launch of a year-long campaign to raise awareness of oral health and prevention of oral diseases. Since 2013 these campaigns have featured a specific theme.

FDI World Dental Federation partners with Dentsply Sirona, Haleon, Solventum, Smile Train, and Dental Tribune International Publishing on World Oral Health Day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Partners {{!}} World Oral Health Day |url=https://www.worldoralhealthday.org/partners |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=www.worldoralhealthday.org}}</ref>

The annual award categories are:

* Most educational activity * Best media campaign * Best campaign by a dental students' association * Most engaging community campaign

== Dental Students Campaign Competition == Since 2014 and in collaboration with its daughter organization, the International Association of Dental Students (IADS), FDI organizes an annual worldwide competition for best awareness and prophylactic activities held by dental student organizations in celebration of World Oral Health Day.

Winners of WOHD Dental Students Competition: * 2014: Egypt and Sudan<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/editoriads/docs/wohd15|title=World Oral Health Day Booklet by IADS|date=27 September 2014 }}</ref> * 2015: Turkey and Saudi Arabia<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/177802692322502/permalink/593257230777044/|title=WOHD15 Students Competition Winners|website=IADS Prophylaxis Group}}</ref> * 2016: Poland, Iraq (Kurdistan) and Egypt<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fdiworlddental.org/news/20161122/wohd-2016-student-awards-presented-in-poznan|title=WOHD 2016 student awards presented in Poznan}}</ref> * 2017: Spain, Egypt, Sudan and Palestine * 2024: Student Association of the Faculty of Dental Medicine of the University of Porto<ref>{{Cite web |title=Award winners {{!}} World Oral Health Day |url=https://www.worldoralhealthday.org/award-winners |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=www.worldoralhealthday.org}}</ref> (Portugal) In February 2017, IADS launched WOHD Portal for organizing digitally the application and reviewing process of its national and local member organizations action plans and final reports.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wohd.iads-web.org|title=IADS World Oral Health Day Portal}}</ref>

==Themes==

*2013: Healthy Teeth for Healthy Life *2014: Brush for a Healthy Mouth! *2015: Smile for Life! *2016: It All Starts Here. Healthy mouth. Health body. *2017: Live Mouth Smart *2018: Say Ahh: Think Mouth, Think Health *2019: Say Ahh: Act On Mouth Health *2020: Say Ahh: Unite for Mouth Health *2021–2023: Be Proud of Your Mouth<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Campaign theme 2021-2023 {{!}} World Oral Health Day |url=http://www.worldoralhealthday.org/campaign-theme-2021-2023 |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=www.worldoralhealthday.org}}</ref> *2024 - 2026: A Happy Mouth is...A Happy Mind<ref name=":0" /> **Toothie Beaver, a cartoon dentist, joined Instagram in January 2024<ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/toothiebeaver/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref> and encouraged participation in the #BrushAndBoogie movement as part of World Oral Health Day<ref>{{Cite web |title=#BrushandBoogie {{!}} World Oral Health Day |url=https://www.worldoralhealthday.org/brushandboogie |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=www.worldoralhealthday.org}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.worldoralhealthday.org World Oral Health Day] *[http://www.fdiworldental.org FDI World Dental Federation] *[http://www.gov.za/speeches/world-oral-health-day-2016 World Oral Health Day 2016] *[http://iads-web.org International Association of Dental Students]

Category:March observances Category:Dental health education Category:Health awareness days