"Healthy starts in the mouth - for everyone!"

Good oral hygiene should not be a privilege. According to Dr. Christian Rath, Managing Director of the Association for Dental Hygiene (VfZ), Dental Health Day on 25 September provides a valuable opportunity to draw public attention to the importance of good oral hygiene and raise awareness of the importance of good dental health for everyone.²

Better use of preventive services and more health participation

With a view to this year's focus of Dental Health Day, the Federal Association of Dentists in the Public Health Service (BZÖG) has therefore formulated the following goals:

• Identify the causes of gaps in care,
• reach vulnerable people and their caregivers in their living environments and raise awareness of oral and general health,
• work together with dentists in private practice to create structures that enable these population groups to receive oral health care.

The GKV-Spitzenverband, for example, is focusing this year on people in need of care and people with disabilities. If they are covered by statutory health insurance and receive integration assistance, they would have access to additional services in the area of prophylaxis to prevent dental diseases as well as treatment services for periodontitis.

In turn, the public health service in Germany helps to lay the foundations for a healthy upbringing and good oral health from an early age by providing easily accessible preventive services such as regular dental check-ups, consultations and prophylaxis in daycare centers and schools.

schülke - Our contribution to oral hygiene

We at schülke also provide low-threshold access to better oral hygiene. These figures show just how important this is, and not just for vulnerable patient groups: According to the German Dental Association (BZÄK), almost 35 million people in Germany have periodontitis - mainly due to a lack of oral hygiene - of which around ten million people have a severe form. And the incidence increases with age: according to the fifth oral health study³, more than half of people aged 35 and over are affected, almost two thirds of those over 65 and as many as 90 percent of the very elderly.

octenident^® antiseptic can make a valuable contribution to oral hygiene, for example:

• when oral hygiene skills in adults, e.g. brushing teeth, are only possible to a limited extent,
• before extensive surgical procedures, e.g. implantation or apicoectomy⁴,
• to temporarily inhibit plaque formation - the main cause of inflammatory gum disease (e.g. gingivitis) and tooth decay
• before dental treatment of patients with an increased risk of infection.

The approved drug is well tolerated, has low systemic absorption and can be used during pregnancy*. Further advantages include a fast onset of action in just 30 seconds, the solution is alcohol-free and the mint flavor improves patient compliance.

The octenident^® mouthwash solution is suitable for daily oral care for the whole family (children aged 6 and over). It inhibits odor-causing germs in the mouth and ensures fresh breath. In addition, the mouth rinse does not discolor the teeth. Rinse the mouth for approx. 30 seconds 2-3 times a day as required. Eating and drinking is possible immediately after use.

*From the 4th month

Sources:
¹ In addition to the BZÄK, BZÖG, GKV-Spitzenverband and VfZ, around 30 organizations from the healthcare and political sectors are members of the Dental Health Day campaign group. The aim is to sensitize the general public to oral health and to increase knowledge about dental and oral health among the population.
(#5105)tagderzahngesundheit.de
³ https://www.bzaek.de/ueber-uns/daten-und-zahlen/deutsche-mundgesundheitsstudie-dms.html
⁴ DAHZ Hygiene Guide 2022