Oral disorders have affected a vast majority of Indians in the last three decades, yet the burden of dental diseases remains largely unnoticed.
Health News: Dental care and oral hygiene largely remains an undiscussed topic, with few people aware of the risks associated with poor dental hygiene. The National Oral Health Care Programme, which falls under the care of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), stated that despite the fact that several dental diseases have been burdening the country in the last three decades, little attention has been paid to tackling these issues.
Tooth decay, dental caries, and periodontal diseases have been noted to be high among the Indian population, and yet oral care is ignored so often.
“When it comes to oral hygiene, very few people are aware of the basics. People still don’t know about the basic brushing practices, much less anything else. So when they do come to us, it’s usually when they are presenting with a larger problem,” explains Chennai-based dentist Dr Padma Alluri. She notes that with regard to oral cancers, very few people are aware of the symptoms.
In 2018, the National Institute of Cancer Prevention which falls under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), released a study that showed that oral cancer cases in India had spiked in a span of six years. The institute noted that around 12 lakh cases of cancer were reported across the country in 2018, rising from 10 lakh reported cases in 2012. Reports have stated that anywhere up to as much as 85% of the entire population is susceptible to a dental disease, with India being referred to as the world’s “capital” for oral cancers. (Read full story)
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