National Dental Hygiene Day in Thailand Date in the current year: October 21, 2024

Thanks to the efforts of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, who is widely regarded as the father or modern medicine and public health of Thailand, most citizens of the country have access to universal healthcare through three government programs. In Bangkok and large urban areas, there are also private hospitals that provide high-quality but relatively affordable medical care, making Thailand one of the world’s leading medical tourism destination, which includes dental tourism.

Prices for dental services in Thailand can be 50–80% lower than, say, in Western Europe, the United States or Australia, but their quality is quite high. Many Thai dentists undergo training in Australia, the United Kingdom or the United States before returning to their home country to practice. Several dental clinics in Thailand were the first to receive accreditation from JCI (Joint Commission International), an international organization that accredits medical services from around the world.

Unfortunately, residents of the rural areas of Thailand don’t have the same access to dental care services as foreign tourists of residents of Bangkok and other major cities. Therefore, one of the main tasks of National Dental Hygiene Day in Thailand is to address this discrepancy and highlight the importance of universal dental care coverage for everyone, which should be available to everyone, regardless of whether they live in a bid city or a small village.

The date of National Dental Hygiene Day was chosen to commemorate the birth anniversary of Princess Srinagarindra, the wife of Prince Mahidol and the mother of two kings of Thailand, Rama VIII (Ananda Mahidol) and Rama IX (Bhumibol Adulyadej).

She was a professional nurse (in fact, she met her future husband after winning a medical scholarship provided by him) and assisted Prince Mahidol in his healthcare endeavors. After her husband’s death, Princess Srinagarindra continued to contribute to public health charitable projects, including several organizations that provided people living in remote areas with access to dental examinations and services.

On the occasion of National Dental Hygiene Day, these organizations, with the help of volunteer dentists and support from the Ministry of Public Health, conduct free dental examinations in remote and rural areas of Thailand. In addition, special events are held at educational institutions that train dentists and dental technicians, as well as in dental clinics.

Another task of National Dental Hygiene is to raise awareness of the importance of oral hygiene (tooth brushing, flossing, rinsing one’s mouth or chewing gum after meals, avoiding harmful and too hot or too cold foods, etc.) for preventing tooth, gum and gastrointestinal issues.

Interestingly, National Dental Hygiene Day in Thailand is celebrated on the same day as National Nurses’ Day. It is not a coincidence, since both observances were established to honor the contributions of Princess Mother Srinagarindra to the country’s public health.