Alliance for a Cavity Free Future Expands Impact in Latin America with Chapters in Mexico and Colombia
Alliance for a Cavity Free Future Expands Impact in Latin America with Chapters in Mexico and Colombia Mexico City, Mexico – Today at the FDI World Dental Congress in Mexico City, worldwide leaders in dentistry and public health gathered
Alliance for a Cavity Free Future Expands Impact in Latin America with Chapters in Mexico and Colombia
Mexico City, Mexico – Today at the FDI World Dental Congress in Mexico City, worldwide leaders in dentistry and public health gathered to kick-off the Mexican chapter of the Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future (the Alliance), a global campaign to stop cavities.
The Alliance, which launched globally in September 2010, challenges global leaders and other regional and local stakeholders to take action against caries, an early form of cavities which can be prevented and controlled before developing into a cavity.
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease on the planet, affecting five billion people, or nearly 80 percent of the world’s population.1 In Mexico alone, tooth decay affects 90 percent of the population, impacting not only the population’s oral health, but also the overall well-being and quality of life of Mexicans, according to the Mexican National Health Program.
“As we make progress in our economy, our diet patterns have shifted towards more sugary foods that affect not only our physical health, but also our oral health,” said Dr. Jorge Triana, Chief Dental Officer, Ministry of Health, Mexico. “Mexico is joining the global movement towards a cavity-free future in order to build upon the great work already being done on the issue of caries by dental and public health professionals in Mexico.”
Led by Dr. Heriberto Vera, former Chief Dental Officer for Mexico and the Chairman of the Mexican Alliance Chapter, key influencers in oral health and public health from Mexico showed their support for a new approach to caries and signed a declaration committing to the goals of the Alliance. Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Mexican Dental Association and the Mexican Society of Health. This is the second chapter of the Alliance to launch this year, with Colombia kicking off their local chapter in May.
“At the global level, we continue to learn the importance of how cavities occur along a continuum and how important it is to detect and treat caries early in order to prevent the formation of cavities,” said Dr. Nigel Pitts, Chairman of the global Alliance. “We are excited to have the opportunity to work with Mexico and its dedicated dental and public health community to bring this new awareness about caries to the country and its people.”
Alliance Launches Consumer Website
In an effort to raise awareness about caries and how to prevent them, the Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future unveiled a free, online consumer website that provides information about caries and resources to help prevent and manage early cavities. On the website, individuals and families, who are committed to stopping early cavities, can learn about caries and download a checklist to help assess their current oral health habits. After completing the items on the checklist, consumers receive a Certificate of Completion, demonstrating their commitment to oral health. To access the website, please visit www.AllianceForACavityFreeFuture.org or www.alianzaporunfuturolibredecaries.org for a Spanish version.
Cavities are preventable and in the early stages reversible.
# # #
About Caries as a Continuum
As dietary patterns around the globe shift, tooth decay becomes a major public health burden to countries around the world. This results in diminishing oral health and an impact on other health conditions; reduces overall well-being, self-esteem, employability and social mobility; and affects both individuals and countries from an economic standpoint.
However, most people do not realize that early cavities, or caries, are preventable and initially reversible. Through its efforts, the Alliance has been working with dental and public health leaders on a global and local level to raise awareness about the importance of caries as a disease continuum and the role of early detection, prevention and management of caries.
About The Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future
The Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future is a worldwide group of experts who have joined together to promote integrated clinical and public health action to stop caries initiation and progression – their goal is to move towards a cavity-free future for all age groups. Overall, the group believes that global collaborative action is needed to challenge global leaders and other regional and local stakeholders to learn the importance of caries as a disease continuum where small initial caries lesions can be prevented and controlled before developing into gross cavities. The Alliance also works to drive and to participate in action toward the delivery of comprehensive caries prevention and management that can positively influence the continuing problem of caries.
The campaign kicked off in September 2010 at the 2010 FDI Annual World Dental Congress in Brazil. To date, local chapters have been launched in Colombia (May 2011) and Mexico (September 2011) with additional chapters following in the near future. More information about the Alliance can be found at: www.AllianceForACavityFreeFuture.org and at www.alianzaporunfuturolibredecaries.org for a Spanish version.
