In 2015, the Tokyo declaration on dental care and oral health for healthy longevity was adopted. The declaration called upon health policy-makers and professionals to significantly reduce the global burden of disease related to oral health, to promote greater access and equity in oral health services, and to integrate oral health programmes into the larger development agenda. Greater advocacy is needed to increase the prominence of oral health on the global health agenda, for policies that address the determinants of poor oral health and to ensure that oral health care is available to all without financial hardship.
Reducing oral health issues calls for a reform of dental care systems to shift the focus from invasive dental treatment to prevention and control of oral diseases based on person-centred care. Stronger policies are also needed to address the determinants of oral diseases and noncommunicable diseases and to tackle inequalities through inclusive universal health care access.
WHO's oral health work is focused on strengthening cost-effective population-wide oral health promotion and oral health care within the primary care system, particularly among populations where access to oral health care is most limited.
The WHO Oral Health Programme is currently implementing a three-year roadmap (2019-2021) comprising a mix of normative work and practical support to countries through five priority activities. A top priority is the development of the WHO Global Oral Health Report, due to be launched in the second quarter of 2021. Targeting policy and decision-makers, the report will describe the burden, challenges and priority actions to renew global commitment to improve oral health within the noncommunicable disease and universal health coverage agendas
Oral health
Oral health is a key indicator of overall health, well-being and quality of life. It encompasses a range of diseases and conditions that include dental caries, Periodontal disease, Tooth loss, Oral cancer, Oral manifestations of HIV infection, Oro-dental trauma, Noma and birth defects such as cleft lip and palate. The Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 estimated that oral diseases affect 3.5 billion people worldwide, with untreated dental caries being among the most prevalent noncommunicable diseases. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the incidence of oral cancer was within the top three of all cancers in some Asian-Pacific countries in 2018.
Most oral diseases and conditions share modifiable risk factors with the leading NCDs (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes). These risk factors include tobacco use, alcohol consumption and unhealthy diets high in free sugars, all of which are increasing at the global level. There is a proven relationship between oral and general health. It is reported, for example, that diabetes mellitus is linked with the development and progression of periodontitis. Moreover, there is a causal link between high sugars consumption and diabetes, obesity and dental caries
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