Dental awareness has gone up in India: IDC

Indore, June 17 (UNI) Dental awareness has increased in both urban and rural areas of the country, says Indian Dental Council Member and Indore Dental College Principal Deshraj Jain.

''The perspective has undergone a radical change over the past half decade. Earlier, a dentist meant a doctor who extracted teeth or fitted false ones but now patients are approaching us for setting of teeth, root canaling, bleaching etc. Taking Indore's case alone, the number of rural patients has gone up by 10 to 20 per cent,'' he told UNI. Dr Jain recently attended the Council's 114th General Body Meeting.

The expert pointed out that altered eating and drinking habits were leading to a spurt in patients.

''Fibre content has declined. Instead of chewing food properly, we prefer rapid eating or fast food. Consequently, gums do not receive massaging and teeth are inadequately exercised,'' he added.

UNI