Smile Train urges children and families with clefts to receive oral health treatment

---

Extract from the article: World Oral Health Day was celebrated on 20 March 2023. On this occasion, the NGO Smile Train calls on children and families with clefts to visit their nearest partner hospital for oral health treatment.

---

World Oral Health Day was celebrated on 20 March 2023. On this occasion, the NGO Smile Train calls on children and families with clefts to visit their nearest partner hospital for oral health treatment.

Clefting is a common birth defect in which the patient has difficulty breathing, eating and speaking. As they grow up, children with clefts are more likely to have missing or misplaced teeth and often require ongoing orthodontic treatment. They may be particularly susceptible to tooth decay or cavities and are often marginalised, excluded and bullied, which can further restrict their access to basic dental and surgical care.  If left untreated, these children are therefore at risk of severe pain and tooth loss at an early age. This can affect their ability to chew, speak and even sleep, which has a significant impact on their health and quality of life.

Smile Train's Vice President and Regional Director for Africa, Ms Nkeiruka Obi said the organisation provides free, holistic and comprehensive cleft care, including oral health and orthodontics. She therefore called on more cleft patients to go to the nearest partner hospital for oral health care.

« It is essential that children with clefts receive timely oral health care to not only significantly reduce the development of tooth decay and cavities, but also to improve long-term quality of life. Timely oral health care improves the mental and emotional health of children with clefts and enables them to thrive. As we commemorate World Oral Health Day, we strive to provide quality cleft care so that cleft patients can also be proud of their mouths », said Ms Obi.

« Oral health professionals, cleft care team members, cleft community members, families and patients themselves all have a vital role to play when it comes to preventing oral diseases in cleft patients, and the cleft community as a whole », she added.

In countries across the continent such as Togo, Smile Train continues to build the capacity of orthodontic professionals to improve access to quality treatment as close to the patient as possible.

The non-governmental organisation has active cleft treatment programmes in 42 African countries with over 245 partners and more than 255 partner hospitals across the continent. Smile Train supports local health professionals with the training, funding and resources to provide free comprehensive cleft surgery and care to children around the world.

According to the WHO, 3.5 billion people, or 50% of the world's population, are affected by oral diseases, with 3 out of 4 affected people living in low- and middle-income countries.  Good oral health is essential for eating, breathing and speaking, and contributes to general health, well-being and self-confidence.

Elom AKAKPO