Women striving to take Humanitarian Action

The effect of Dentistry in Humanitarian Aid

For most of us who live well or can afford to visit doctors regularly, dental care is not that big an issue. At least not as much as it is in poor countries. People that can afford it, go to their local dentist on a regular basis. In other cases, some go for oral cosmetic surgery, implants and cleaning. These are not essential inasmuch as they are for appearance purposes. However, for people in poor countries, oral health can be a major issue. In certain cases, it can often turn into a humanitarian crisis.


Most are surprised to learn that oral diseases around the globe are rampant. More so in countries that are very poor or lack proper dental care. The harsh reality is that dental and oral diseases cause a great deal of harm for many globally. The problem is that a lot of individuals tend to think dentistry is not a huge health dilemma. Worse yet, that it is an issue at all. Hunger and diseases are often given priority since the effects these have can be seen visually. However, there are millions of people all over the world who suffer from oral diseases. Not just low-income countries. In other instances, in middle income parts of the world.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has added oral health to their list of diseases or infirmity. By doing so, it has allowed more attention to be given to this problem. In addition, it also helps recognize it for what it is; a crisis. In order to help combat this challenge, there are several organizations providing aid. One of them is Doctors without borders. They utilize their skills and professional expertise to help folks in these indigent countries. Especially those who cannot afford dental care. Other organizations are the Red Crescent Movement and International Red Cross. Besides providing access to dental care, they also carry out research. The studies are designed to see what impact lack of access to dental hygiene and care has.

Another aspect covered by those who provide dentistry aid is giving people literature. The material serves several purposes, not just educating them about dental issues. They also act as a survey and even guidelines. Countries which are presently at war have seen the impact that lacking oral health care can have. Without a system in place, many end up suffering from lack of access to dental wellness. Dentists and doctors working in places torn by war and lack of dental clinics, are privy to the negative impacts. They see firsthand what happens when dental clinics are not available for these people. Cavities turn to infections, which then end up causing other health relate problems.

Recently, new studies done show how not taking care of your teeth, can impact fertility. Men and women can both result in experiencing issues. Men have problems such as low sperm count or dysfunctional sperm cells. Females on the other hand, see their chances for becoming pregnant lowered. By contrast, those who practice and maintain oral health have higher chances of fertility. Clearly, having access to Opencare and dental clinics is crucial. The problem is that too many view dental care as only a cosmetic or non-essential health concern.



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