A new World Health Organization report revealed that regarding 3.5 billion people suffer from oral diseases, and that three out of every four infected people live in low- and middle-income countries, calling for the need to adopt a public health approach by addressing common risk factors.
“Oral health has long been neglected in global health, but many oral diseases can be prevented and treated through the cost-effective measures outlined in this report,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The UN official added that the World Health Report analyzed the global oral health situation through key aspects and signs in 194 countries, and showed that cases have increased by one billion over the past 30 years, and that the main reason is that many people do not have access to prevention and treatment.
The World Health Organization stated that the most common oral disease is caused by tooth decay, and gum disease, tooth loss and oral cancer are among the most common oral diseases, while tooth decay is the most common condition around the world, affecting an estimated 2.5 billion people.
The United Nations estimates that severe periodontal disease, a major cause of total tooth loss, affects one billion people worldwide and approximately 380,000 new cases of oral cancers are diagnosed each year.
The World Health Report also highlights inequality in access to oral health services, with vulnerable and disadvantaged groups affected including low-income people and people with disabilities, older people living alone or in care facilities, people in remote and rural communities and from minority groups, these They bear a greater burden of oral disease, according to the World Health Organization.
“WHO is committed to providing guidance and support to countries so that all people, wherever they are and whatever their income, have the knowledge and tools to care for their teeth and mouths, with access to prevention and care services when they need it,” Tedros said.
The World Health Report identified the main barriers to oral health services, including the high expenses that one has to pay out of one’s own pocket, which often lead to catastrophic costs and financial burdens on families and communities. Integration of these services with primary health care models, as well as weak information and monitoring systems, combined with the low priority of oral health research, present obstacles to the development of more effective policy interventions.
The Director-General of Global Health stressed that opportunities to improve global oral health include adopting a public health approach by addressing common risk factors, and this includes promoting a balanced diet low in sugars, stopping tobacco use, reducing alcohol consumption, improving access to fluoride toothpaste, and making oral health a part of From the NHS, redefining the oral health workforce to respond to population needs, expanding coverage of oral health services, and collecting oral health data and integrating it into national health surveillance systems.
The UN official described the report as a “starting point” by providing key information to help countries monitor implementation progress along with timely and relevant response to national decision-makers.
