Neglected epidemics: The role of oral public health to advance global health (original) (raw)
This seems to be an important crucial step for further improvement of oral health as a significant requirement for overall health promotion at the regional and global level. The panel members prepared and published a declaration which has been published in the WHS June 2020 newsletter. We write to you in order to convey the messages of the panel to a wider audience community. Oral diseases represent a major public health problem due to their high prevalence regionally and globally. According to a recent study on global burden of diseases, untreated dental caries was the most prevalent condition among the 313 diseases assessed globally [1-3]. Oral diseases impose heavy financial burden not only in low income countries, but also in high-and middle-income countries. According to World Health Organization, oral diseases are the fourth most expensive condition to treat, often surpassing the expenses for cancer, heart disease, stroke and dementia treatments, and causing negative impact on individual's quality of life [4]. Fortunately, ample sound scientific evidence is available on effective preventive methods and promoting programs to prevent major oral diseases and maintaining good oral health at the individual and community levels. Given that most oral diseases like other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are behavioural related conditions, individuals are expected to play an active role for their own health improvement. To support a good oral health behaviour, in addition to providing sufficient oral self-care knowledge, proper access to enabling environment as well as preventive health system should be made available where people grow up, live and work. Unfortunately, in many countries the opportunities for community-based activities in oral health promotion are either limited or underutilized. Recent scientific findings have brought better understanding on the important role of good oral health in overall health and even treatment of major NCDs. Chronic oral infection has close relation with diseases
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