Underlining that oral diseases pose a major threat to public health, President Pranab Mukherjee today said they have become leading health problems resulting from tobacco use, alcohol and changing life style.
Inaugurating the FDI Annual World Dental Congress hosted by the Indian Dental Association at Greater Noida, Mukherjee said most people are ignorant of the significance of oral health and its impact on general health.
"The standards of oral and dental health are challenging in this subcontinent. Most people are ignorant of the significance of oral health and its impact on general health. Oral diseases and tooth decay were considered a part of the ageing process and ignored by a large number of people," he said at the function.
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Mukherjee complimented FDI and the United Nations for recognition of oral diseases as a part of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, chronic respiratory diseases and cancer, on account of their sharing certain common risk factors.
"What we need today in India is an Oral Health Revolution similar to the Green Revolution and White Revolution," the President said.
He said dental caries affect 60-80 per cent of our children and periodontal (gum) disease affect nearly 90-95 per cent of the population.
The President also highlighted surge in oral cancer cases in the country with tobacco use being the leading cause behind the fatal disease.
"Dentists often are the first to detect any pre-cancerous lesions in the mouth. I am informed that IDA has set up an Oral Cancer Foundation for early detection and treatment of oral cancer along with Tobacco Intervention Initiative for tobacco cessation," he said.
