KARACHI, Nov 28: Low priority towards oral health on the part of individuals and community has enhanced the incidence rate of dental caries and gum disease.

Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed, Head of Dental Department of the JPMC, said owing to absolute disregard for oral hygiene and growing popularity of pan, chalia, gutka a surge in the incidence rate of oral cancers is being witnessed in both rural and urban sectors.

He said that with a view to address the situation and to create an awareness among the masses regarding significance of oral hygiene, a series of workshops has been jointly organized for supervisors and lady health care workers along with schoolteachers by the dentistry department of JPMC and WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Oral Health.

Through the programme, he said stress is laid on prevention.

Mentioning that some nine such workshops have been arranged across the country during last one year, he said major emphasis is on ART mode of treatment.

Simple techniques could help people avoid severe consequence and also prevent them from visiting quacks, Dr. Mushtaq said.—APP