Up to 90% of the Vietnamese people have dental problems, said Dr. Trinh Dinh Hai, chairman of Vietnam Odonto-Stomatology Association (VOSA). Brushing one’s teeth every morning and evening helps reduce the risk of tooth decay by 14%, Dr. Hai said at a ceremony on the World Oral Health Day in Ho Chi Minh City on March 20. Dental diseases are rampant in Vietnam, where a majority of adults do not have their teeth and mouth examined regularly and they also do not receive proper instructions on how to take care of their teeth and mouth. Many children, even those with all their adult teeth, are not taught how to brush them properly or trained to do it habitually after meals and before sleeping, the online newspaper reported. Another typical mistake many Vietnamese make regarding their dental hygiene is to rely on toothpicks instead of using dental floss, experts said. It is important to improve the community’s oral health care regimen, especially for children, as it is difficult and costly to treat associated diseases, they noted. (Tien Phong – Pioneer March 21)
