A leading oral care brand under Unilever Ghana, Pepsodent, has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that everyone, especially children, has access to quality dental advice and care.

With a focus on bridging the significant oral health service gap in lower-income countries, Pepsodent is spearheading initiatives to make dental care accessible to everyone.

Speaking at the 2024 World Oral Health Day event at the Christ The King Basic School in Accra on Wednesday, March 20, Nanayaa Owusu-Ansah, the Marketing Director for Beauty, Well-being and Personal Care for Unilever Ghana and Francophone Africa, who spoke on behalf of the Unilever Ghana’s Managing Director, said: “Oral health is a key indicator of overall health, well-being and quality of life.”

Speaking on the theme for this year’s celebration, “A Happy Mouth is...A Happy Body”, she said despite the natural occurrence of tooth loss during childhood, the prevalence of oral pain related to cavities and tooth decay is alarmingly high and avoidable.

The event was attended by pupils of Christ The King School, educators, health advocates, parents and other stakeholders.

In Ghana, recent studies have shown that 13% of middle school children aged 9-16 years suffer from dental caries.

It also emerged that the scarcity of oral health services is stark, with only 35% of the population in low-income countries having access to such services.

Specifically, in Ghana, the ratio of citizens per dentist is a staggering 1:58,400, highlighting the critical need for increased access and early intervention.

According to the Marketing Director for Beauty, Well-being and Personal Care for Unilever Ghana and Francophone Africa, Nanayaa Owusu-Ansah, Pepsodent is committed to tackling this challenge, hence the introduction of its innovative teledentistry service, which provides a digital platform that enables individuals including children, regardless of their location, to #TalkToADentist when needed.

Unilever Ghana says this service is particularly crucial in overcoming barriers to dental care and in educating the public about the importance of preventive care from as young as one year old.

“Through our teledentistry service, we aim to demystify dental visits, making them a positive and pain-free experience for children. This early introduction sets the foundation for a lifetime of good oral health practices” she noted.

She added that “Poor oral health not only affects physical well-being but also has significant implications on children’s self-esteem and educational potential.”

According to her, almost one in three children has missed school due to oral pain.

In 2021 alone, it was estimated that 25 million children in Ghana missed school due to this issue.

By improving access to dental care, Pepsodent believes it can make a meaningful impact in reducing school absenteeism and enhancing children’s lives.

The President of the Ghana Dental Association, Dr Cecilia Kakraba Quarshie, who joined Unilever in the celebration of this year’s World Oral Health Day, commended the Pepsodent brand for its continuous collaboration with the association to promote healthy oral health practices.

She lauded the Pepsodent #TalkToADentist service, describing it as a game changer in the advocacy for better oral health practices.

“The mouth serves as the doorway to the body, and so the poor functioning of the mouth affects the body” she noted, encouraging people not to only focus on teeth whitening which is just one aspect of good oral health practices.

She encouraged people to check their diet by limiting sugary and acidic foods which can harm the teeth.

Dr Cecilia Kakraba Quarshie said there’s a need for the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders to consider the introduction of oral health education in the school system to imbibe the knowledge in the children even before they become teenagers and adults.

As the world observes World Oral Health Day 2024, Pepsodent is calling on healthcare providers, policymakers, educators and communities, to join in its mission to provide universal access to dental care.

It says collectively, oral health disparities would be addressed, and every child can look forward to a future with a bright and healthy smile.