On 20 March 2025, the world comes together to celebrate World Oral Health Day, an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of good oral hygiene and its impact on overall well-being. This year’s theme, “A Happy Mouth is A Happy Mind”, highlights the critical link between oral health and mental well-being, reinforcing the idea that a healthy smile contributes to a happier, more fulfilling life.
To mark this important occasion, we spoke with Australia Awards alumnus Samuel Alex, a dedicated dental professional committed to improving oral healthcare in the Pacific. Samuel graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Fiji National University’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences in 2016 and has since returned as a current Australia Awards scholar pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Oral Surgery. His insights shed light on the challenges and opportunities in oral healthcare, particularly in Vanuatu, and the role of preventive care in fostering long-term health.
As a passionate advocate for oral health, Samuel emphasises the importance of preventive care as the foundation of good dental health. When asked about key strategies to address oral health challenges, he shares his three essential pieces of advice for maintaining a healthy mouth:
- Brush your teeth three times a day using fluoridated toothpaste.
- Visit a dentist twice a year for regular check-ups.
- Seek prompt dental care if you experience any issues, rather than delaying treatment.
These simple yet effective steps, he explains, can significantly reduce the risk of oral diseases, including tooth decay, gum disease, and infections, which can negatively impact overall well-being. Discussing the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene throughout life, Samuel underscores the profound impact of oral health on an individual’s physical, social, and mental well-being.
“A healthy person will continue to enjoy physical, social, and mental well-being if they take good care of their oral health,” he says. “In reality, poor oral health can make it difficult for individuals to eat, smile, or talk, and even lead to missing work or school due to toothaches.”
His statement reinforces the theme of World Oral Health Day 2025, highlighting that oral health is not just about having a bright smile but also about ensuring a good quality of life and maintaining self-confidence and overall happiness.
Despite growing awareness of oral health’s importance, access to dental care remains a significant challenge in Vanuatu. Reflecting on the situation, Samuel points out that for the past 40 years, many individuals—especially those in remote islands—have faced barriers in obtaining essential dental care.
“People who live in the distant islands of Vanuatu must travel to Port Vila or Luganville, Santo for dental treatment,” he explains. This geographical challenge, combined with a severe shortage of dental professionals, exacerbates the oral health crisis.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a dentist-to-population ratio of 1:7,500 for developing nations, yet in Vanuatu, the ratio stands at 1:25,000. This stark contrast highlights the urgent need for more dental professionals in the country.
Furthermore, findings from the 2017 Vanuatu First National Oral Health Survey revealed that 70% of children aged 5–7 had tooth decay—an alarming statistic that signals the rising prevalence of oral diseases.
Addressing this critical issue, Samuel encourages young students to pursue careers in dentistry to help bridge the gap in oral healthcare services.
“I urge school students to pursue dentistry so that we can reduce the prevalence of oral diseases among the people of Vanuatu,” he says. His call to action highlights the need for investments in education, training, and healthcare infrastructure to build a future where quality dental care is accessible to all.
This World Oral Health Day, let’s commit to making oral health a priority—not just for ourselves, but for the generations to come.