Malaysians enjoy better oral health now
Malaysians enjoy better oral health now
KLANG: Although Malaysians currently enjoy far better oral health than their parents did, many also suffer from unnecessary oral diseases which can be prevented.
"The socially-disadvantaged segments of the Malaysian population do not have the knowledge and resources to attain good oral health and experience a disproportionate level of oral health problems," Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.
"These disparities present a major health challenge that demands the best efforts of the public and private sectors, as well as individuals," he said in his speech at the launch of Oral Health Month 2010 at Bukit Tinggi here Thursday.
"Our young children also need more concerted efforts, as less than a third (32.2%) of six-year-olds were free from tooth decay last year," he said, adding however that most middle-aged and young Malaysians were expected to retain their natural teeth during their lifetime.
Last year, 62.3% of 12-year-olds and 53% of 16-year-olds in the country had zero cavities and zero restorations on their teeth, he said.
The minister also said that in the interest of public oral health and safety, the dental profession strongly supported fluoridation of public water supplies at the optimum level of 0.5 parts per million (ppm) as the first-line strategy for the prevention and control of dental decay.
While 75% of the population enjoyed the benefits of water fluoridation, the ministry was working towards extending fluoridated water to the remaining 25%, he added. - Bernama
KLANG: Although Malaysians currently enjoy far better oral health than their parents did, many also suffer from unnecessary oral diseases which can be prevented.
"The socially-disadvantaged segments of the Malaysian population do not have the knowledge and resources to attain good oral health and experience a disproportionate level of oral health problems," Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.
"These disparities present a major health challenge that demands the best efforts of the public and private sectors, as well as individuals," he said in his speech at the launch of Oral Health Month 2010 at Bukit Tinggi here Thursday.
"Our young children also need more concerted efforts, as less than a third (32.2%) of six-year-olds were free from tooth decay last year," he said, adding however that most middle-aged and young Malaysians were expected to retain their natural teeth during their lifetime.
Last year, 62.3% of 12-year-olds and 53% of 16-year-olds in the country had zero cavities and zero restorations on their teeth, he said.
The minister also said that in the interest of public oral health and safety, the dental profession strongly supported fluoridation of public water supplies at the optimum level of 0.5 parts per million (ppm) as the first-line strategy for the prevention and control of dental decay.
While 75% of the population enjoyed the benefits of water fluoridation, the ministry was working towards extending fluoridated water to the remaining 25%, he added. - Bernama
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