European Federation of Periodontology Launched New Oral Health Campaign: 4 Free Brochures For Your Practice

This month, the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) launched an "Oral health through life" initiative dedicated to improving Europeans' awareness of the importance of good oral health.

In the press release, the Federation's officials released some fresh statistics regarding the national dental health condition in Europe and shared a few recommendation brochures for different age groups that you can use in your dental cabinets to share with your patients.

Let's take a look at the first steps of that new campaign.

Key insights

In some sense, teenagers (13-19 years) are the most vulnerable group due to physiological turbulence experienced during the transition to adulthood. Thus, unstable hormones may increase gum sensitivity, leading to gingivitis development in case of poor oral hygiene. Moreover, according to statistics, 73% of this group have gingival bleeding.

Additionally, teenagers' food habits often include some sugary or starchy snacks and sweet soda, which, in turn, provoke rapid growth of caries-causing pathogens. Thus, according to the EFP, about 77% of this group have caries (16-19-year-olds have the largest share).

In adults (20-59 years), caries prevalence ranges from 40 to 90% depending on the age (the older – the higher prevalence). Still, this group has an even more widespread problem – gingivitis, which affects about 90% of this group.

In older adults (65<), the most common dental issue is a cavity that affects about 96% of their population. Other notable issues include:

• Xerostomia (dry mouth syndrome) impacts about 33% of older adults
• Untreated tooth decay affects 20% of the group

Both of these conditions are important risk factors for caries and oral infections. The latter is especially dangerous for older adults as they may significantly impact the cardiovascular system and cognitive performance.

Brochures for practice

EFP published four brochures for different age groups, from infants to seniors, with a short recommendation and infographics with crucial insights about how to keep your dental health safe.

These brochures in English and Spanish may become a fine addition to your clinic as a wall poster or a small printed version that you can give your patient in addition to your visit card, prescription, or other paperwork after the visit.