FROM THE DESK OF Roland Rocchiccioli

The United Kingdom is ranked last in promoting good oral health care in schools; however, don’t feel smug, Australia is only one per cent better!

THAT is a bloody disgrace, by any standard. In a country as prosperous as Australia it is a national scandal. Constantly, I am amazed that free dental care for those who need it, and the re-introduction of dental hospitals in a meaningful manner, is not the part of any election campaign. At 53 per cent, we languish way behind Morocco and Algeria (86 per cent), Indonesia (87 per cent), Brazil and India (91 per cent), and Mexico (93 per cent); all those countries which we are prone to blithely dismiss as third-world. Think about that for a moment, because you ought!

When it comes to dental care it seems to be a case of: ‘fine for those who can afford it, and too bad for those who cannot’.

That is unacceptable, and is yet another of the too-many social divides which exist in our society. Poor dental hygiene is at the root of serious illness. March 20th was dedicated as World Oral Health Day. The Task Team Chair, Dr Edoardo Cavalle, stated, “Good oral health habits start early, and we need to encourage children to brush their teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, and help them avoid foods and drinks high in sugars. We also need to prioritize regular dental check-ups. Poor oral health can negatively affect how a young mouth develops. It can also affect a child’s confidence, social skills as well as potential for success later in life. Oral health is essential to a child’s general health and well-being.”

According to the World Dental Federation, 50-million school days are lost each year because of poor oral health, seriously affecting a child’s ability to perform at school. Parents and teachers must play a key role in helping to educate children on the importance of keeping a healthy mouth and teeth, which will help secure the general health and well-being of future generations. Schools must be encouraged to teach children about good oral care.

Globally, oral diseases affect 3.58 billion people, which is equivalent to one half of the world’s population. Frighteningly, 486-million children suffer from tooth decay of primary teeth, causing premature tooth loss, pain, sleep disruption, eating problems, and other major health issues for young children.

Dentistry has come a long way since the end of WW2. My first experience was with Mr. Meadley, who, as it transpires, was not a dentist but dental technician; a fraud, who hit you if you cried while he attacked your teeth with a peddle drill and no anaesthetic. My father had the most beautiful teeth. His doctor convinced him they needed to be removed because they were, supposedly, causing his stomach ulcer. To compound the felony, he told my father he needed to eat tripe, every day, for six-months. They were living in the bush and my mother used to buy it from the butcher uncleaned because it was cheaper. At the end of the six-months he still had the ulcer and no teeth!

Teeth make a world of difference to a smile, and your reaction. I never understood how, with all her money and privileged access, the late Queen Mother never had her teeth fixed. They were appalling! My dentist has patients, some of whom he has been treating since they were children, and now into their early 20s they do not have any fillings. That was unheard of fifty-years ago.

I have spent a small fortune on my teeth. I am convinced I have educated the dentist’s children, and paid for the renovations on his house at Portsea; however, I would not have it any other way. While other of my colleagues were buying houses and fancy cars, I was taking care of my teeth. I think it is more important.

Mr. Shorten has promised he will investigate and make changes if Labor wins government.

Contact via [email protected] or listen to him, pearly whites and all every Monday morning – 10.30 – on radio 3BA.