PUTRAJAYA, 21 March 2019:
Eight out of 10 Malaysians are not aware they have dental problems, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
He said studies show only 27.4% of adults go for dental checkup each year while 42% of adults visit the dentist every two years.
Speaking at the launch of the World Dental Health Day Celebration here yesterday, he said the low percentage was mainly due to public perception they have no dental problems.
“They are not interested in dental aesthetics but are more interested in smile perfection with teeth whitening.
“The general paradigm is that teeth are associated with beauty not illnesses such as non-communicable diseases and this sad.”
He said there were many serious illnesses such as mouth cancer and oral infection caused by bacterial infection which required intensive care treatment at the hospital.
– Bernama