WHO adopts resolution on Oral Health

WHO encourages the Member States to formulate oral health plans, policies and projects to achieve better oral health as part of the universal health coverage in line with agendas for 2030.

Poor oral health is one of the major contributors to general health conditions and is associated with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, pneumonia, and premature births.

More than 2.3 billion people untreated dental caries in permanent teeth, more than 530 million children suffer from untreated dental caries of primary teeth and 796 million people are affected by periodontal diseases.

Worldwide, 3.5 billion people suffer from oral diseases, as they are closely related to non-communicable diseases, leading to a considerable health, social and economic burden. In recent years have been notable improvements in some countries, the burden of poor oral health remains among the most vulnerable in society.

There are many risk factors that oral diseases such as tobacco use, high intake of free sugars, harmful alcohol consumption and poor hygiene. Oral cancers are among the most prevalent cancers worldwide causing 180.000 deaths each year.

WHO urges Member States:

• Move towards a preventive logic that includes risk identification for comprehensive and inclusive care and contributes to an improvement of the oral health of the population with a positive impact on overall health.
• Include the provision of oral health services as part of the essential health services that deliver universal health coverage.
• Develop and implement policies to promote efficient workforce models for oral health services.