Hamad Dental Center at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is hosting a number of activities in recognition of World Oral Health Day and GCC Oral Health Week.
World Oral Health Day is marked by most countries every year on 20 March. The activities will last till March 27. World Oral Health Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of oral health to a person’s general well-being and quality of life. The GCC Oral Health Week aims to unify activities and awareness programmes that contribute to the promotion of oral and dental health in all GCC countries.
Members of the public are invited to visit the oral health tent at Souq Waqif. Visitors can avail of free dental check-ups and counselling, workshops and educational materials being provided by the Hamad Dental Center staff. School children will also take part in a programme. Activities will run from 8:30am to 8pm daily during the week.
“This year’s World Oral Health Day and GCC Oral Health Week activities are part of our efforts to raise awareness among Qatar’s population of the importance of oral health and the impact that it has on their overall health and well-being,” said Dr Mohamed Sultan al-Darwish, Consultant of Dental Public Health at HMC and President of the Qatar Dental Society.
About 85% of schoolchildren in Qatar experience tooth decay and other oral health problems, according to research conducted by the Hamad Dental Center team in 2014.  
“Good oral care, including proper oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups, can also help one avoid other health problems by keeping harmful bacteria under control. Poor oral health has been shown to contribute to the development of many diseases, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes,” said Dr Najat al-Sayed, Senior Consultant and Head of HMC’s Orthodontics Section.  
According to the World Dental Federation (WDF), 90% of the world’s population will have an oral disease during their lifetime.