MANY MALAYSIANS NOW ENJOY BETTER ORAL HEALTH

KLANG (Malaysia), April 8 (Bernama) -- Currently enjoying far better oral
health than their parents did, most of the middle-aged and youth are expected to
retain their natural teeth during their lifetime.

Disclosing this, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said that while as a
nation, substantial progress was made in improving oral health over the past
five decades, many suffered unnecessary oral disease which could have been
prevented.

"The socially-disadvantaged segments of the Malaysian population who do not
have the knowledge and resources to attain good oral health, experience a
disproportionate level of oral health problems.

"These disparities present a major health challenge that demands the best
efforts of the public and private sectors, as well as individuals," he said.

Liow said this in a speech at the launch of Oral Health Month 2010, jointly
organised by Colgate-Palmolive Marketing Sdn Bhd and the Malaysian Dental
Association (MDA) at Bukit Tinggi here Thursday.

In the interest of public oral health and safety, the minister said 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 per cent of the population enjoyed the benefits of water
fluoridation, he said the ministry tirelessly worked towards extending
fluoridated water to the remaining 25 per cent.

Besides fluoridated tap water, Liow said the usage of fluoride toothpaste
was also strongly recommended but the combination of both methods was more
effective to prevent tooth decay.

Last year, 62.3 per cent of 12-year-olds and 53 per cent of 16-year-olds in
the country had zero cavities and zero restorations on their teeth.

"However, our young children need more concerted efforts as less than a
third (32.2 per cent) of six-year-olds were free from tooth decay last year," he
said.

-- BERNAMA



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