Speaking at a media briefing ahead of the 2025 National Dental Health Day, PDGI Chairman Usman Sumantri outlined three simple steps the public can take to maintain healthy teeth: brushing with fluoride toothpaste, undergoing dental checkups every six months, and reducing the consumption of sugary foods and beverages.
“These measures—especially reducing sugar intake—require significant political will and coordinated efforts from the government,” Sumantri said.
He also highlighted discussions from the World Dental Federation (FDI) meeting held in Malaysia in August 2025, where representatives from 10 countries addressed the widespread consumption of sugar in Asia.
The meeting underscored the urgent need for policies to curb sugar intake—not just among children, but across all age groups.
“Oral health is a gateway to overall health,” Sumantri stressed. “Infections in the mouth can affect other organs and may lead to systemic diseases, including heart and liver conditions.”
He acknowledged that many people avoid visiting the dentist due to fear of dental instruments or high costs. However, he emphasized the importance of prevention over treatment.
“Dental health is not just a personal issue—it’s a national investment,” he said.
To promote preventive care, PDGI is organizing a series of free activities from September to December 2025.
These include public education campaigns, dental screenings, fluoride varnish applications for students, and consultations—delivered by dentists across 55 branches nationwide.
On the same occasion, Director of Non-Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, revealed concerning data from the Free Health Checkup (CKG) program.
Of the 180,000 students who participated, 52.67 percent were found to have dental caries, with around 43,000 suffering from cavities in three or more teeth.
Among adult participants, 45.75 percent were also diagnosed with dental caries, followed by cases of missing teeth, mobile teeth, and periodontal disease.
As of 2 September 2025, the program has registered 24.3 million participants. Of the 17 million adults aged 18 and above, 9.8 million have undergone dental screening, Tarmizi added.
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Translator: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
