26°C
File photo
The Ministry of Health and Wellness is to celebrate International Oral Health Day on March 20 under the theme, ‘A Happy Mouth is a Happy Mind’.
While many people recognise the importance of a healthy smile for appearance and function, fewer realise how significantly oral health impacts emotional and psychological wellness.
The ministry, through a series of activations in the media space, is to showcase the impact of oral health on personal well-being, while also reminding the public of the connection to the physical health of the individual.
The activities form part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to raise public awareness, while also creating the necessary enabling environment for people to maintain good oral hygiene, and to reap the related benefits of enhanced self-confidence and overall mental well-being.
The efforts include the introduction of Second Chance Smiles, a programme that is intended to give Jamaicans access to dentures and related oral health services. Over the last year, the Health Ministry has been on a mission to provide another 8,000 persons with dentures. This is up from just over 2,000 persons who benefitted the previous year after the launch of the $60-million programme.
The ministry’s Oral Health Unit has also launched a podcast series offering useful information and practical tips on maintaining good oral hygiene. That series is available on the ministry’s YouTube channel.
Related Articles
