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AKARTA: The high rate of teeth and mouth diseases in Indonesia recorded at a significant amount shows that the oral hygiene quality in society remains low.

The 2007 Basic Health Survey (Riskesdas) issued by the Health Ministry showed that 89 percent of children under the age of 12 had tooth decay, 43.4 percent of people older than 12 years old had tooth decay that had yet to be addressed while a total of 67.2 percent of all Indonesians experienced tooth decay. The high rate of teeth-related problems has spurred the Indonesian Dentist Association (PDGI), Indonesian Dental Health Faculty Association (AFDOKGI) and PT Unilever to hold National Dental Health Month, which will last until October 29 in 14 Dental Health Faculties and six branches of PDGI across Indonesia.

Paulus Januar, committee head of National Dental Health Month at Moestopo University said that the social activity during the month was expected to improve public awareness on the importance of dental health. The activity at Moestopo University involved 83 dentists and 225 students from the Dental Health Faculty.

“We target to have 2,500 patients for three days,” he said, as quoted by news agency Antara.

Similar activities will also be held at North Sumatra University in Medan, North Sumatra (Oct. 3-5), Hang Tuah University in Surabaya, East Java (Oct.6-8), University of Indonesia in Jakarta (Oct. 10-12), Mahasaraswati University in Denpasar, Bali (Oct. 13-15), Baiturrahmah University in Padang, West Sumatera (Oct. 17-19), Jember University in Jember, East Java (Oct. 20-22), Airlangga University in Surabaya, East Java (Oct. 24-26) and Sam Ratulangi University in Manado, North Sulawesi (Oct. 27-29).