Important facts
Oral diseases, while mostly preventable, present a significant health burden in many countries, affecting people throughout their lifetimes, causing pain, discomfort, appearance, and even death. National Universal Health Insurance (UHC) Benefits Package. Most low- and middle-income countries do not have adequate services to prevent and treat oral health. Oral diseases are caused by a variety of modifiable risk factors common to many non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including sugar consumption, alcohol use, poor hygiene, social and social and commercials.
overview
Most oral health conditions are mostly preventable and can be treated early. In most cases, it is dental caries (cavities), periodontal disease, tooth loss, oral cancer. Other oral conditions of the importance of public health are clefts in the orofacial, noma (severe destructive disease that begins with the mouth that mostly affects children), and oval trauma.
The prevalence of major oral diseases continues to increase worldwide due to growth in urbanization and changing living conditions. This is primarily due to inadequate exposure to fluoride (oral hygiene products such as water supply and toothpaste), high sugar content, and availability and affordable foods with insufficient access to oral health services in the community. Marketing of not only cigarettes and alcohol, but sugary foods and beverages is increasing consumption of products that contribute to oral health and other NCDs.
Tooth decay (denticle)
Dental cavities occur when plaque forms on the surface of the tooth, free sugar (a sugar naturally present in honey, syrup, fruit juice, in addition to all sugar added to food by manufacturers, chefs or consumers) is present in foods and drinks, converting acids that destroy the teeth over time. Continued intake of free sugars, insufficient exposure to fluoride, and lack of removal of plaque by toothbrush can lead to tooth decay, pain, and sometimes tooth loss and infection.
Periodontal disease (gum) disease
Periodontal disease affects the tissue surrounding and supporting the teeth. The disease is characterized by bleeding or swollen gums (gingivitis), pain and sometimes bad breath. In more serious forms, the gums support the bones away from the teeth, loosen the teeth, and sometimes fall off. Severe periodontal disease is estimated to affect more than 1 billion cases worldwide. The main risk factors for periodontal disease are poor oral hygiene and the use of tobacco.
edentulism (loss of total teeth)
Loss of teeth is generally the end of the lifelong history of advanced tooth decay and severe periodontal disease, but it can also be due to trauma or other causes. The estimated global average prevalence of complete tooth loss is almost 7% for people over the age of 20. A much higher global prevalence of 23% has been estimated for people over the age of 60. Losing teeth is psychologically traumatic, can be socially harmful and functionally restrictive.
Oral cancer
Oral cancer includes lip cancer, other parts of the mouth, oropharynx, and ranked as the 13th most common cancer in the world. The global incidence of lip and oral cancer is estimated to be 389 846 new cases and 188 438 deaths in 2022 (1). Oral cancer is more common in men and older people, more fatal in men compared to women, and varies strongly depending on socioeconomic situation.
The use of tobacco, alcohol and arecanut (beautiful quido) is one of the main causes of oral cancer. In North America and Europe, human papillomavirus infections are responsible for the increasing rate of oral cancer among young people.
Oval trauma
Dental trauma is caused by damage to the teeth, mouth and mouth. The latest estimates show that 1 billion people are affected, with the prevalence of children up to age 12 being around 20%. Dental trauma can be caused by oral factors such as lack of dental alignment and environmental factors (such as dangerous playgrounds, risk-taking behavior, road disasters, violence, etc.). Treatment is expensive, long, and sometimes can lead to tooth loss, and can even lead to complications of facial development and quality of life.
Normal
Noma has severe destruction of the mouth and face. It mainly affects children aged 2-6 who suffer from malnutrition, suffering from infectious diseases, suffering from poor oral hygiene and weakening the immune system.
Noma has been found primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, but cases have also been reported in Latin America and Asia. Noma begins as a soft tissue lesion (pain) of the gums. It then develops rapidly progressing acute necrotizing gingivitis, destroying soft tissues and further progressing to involve the hard tissues and skin of the face.
According to the latest estimates (since 1998), there are 140,000 NOMA cases each year. Without treatment, NOMA is fatal in 90% of cases. Survivors suffer from severe facial disfigurement, difficulty speaking and eating, endure social stigma, and require complicated surgery and rehabilitation. If NOMA is detected in the early stages, its progression can be rapidly stopped due to improved basic hygiene, antibiotics and nutrition.
Lips and palate cleft
The most common orofacial cleft of craniofacial congenital deficiency has a global prevalence of 1 in 100-1500 births between 1000 and 1500, with a large variation across a variety of studies and populations (2). Genetic predisposition is the main cause. However, maternal nutrition during pregnancy, cigarette consumption, alcohol and obesity also play a role. In a low-income setting, there is a high mortality rate during the neonatal period. If the clefts of the lips and palate are properly treated by surgery, complete rehabilitation is possible.
Risk factors
Most oral diseases and conditions share modifiable risk factors, such as unhealthy diet of free sugars, common to other NCDs such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes.
Furthermore, diabetes is linked in a reciprocal manner with the onset and progression of periodontal disease. There is also a causal relationship between sugar and large consumption of diabetes, obesity and tooth decay.
Oral health inequalities
Oral diseases disproportionately affect the poor and socially disadvantaged members of society. There is a very strong and consistent association between socioeconomic status (income, occupation, education level) and the prevalence and severity of oral disease. The association exists across the population of early childhood and middle and low-income countries.
Prevention
The burden of oral and other non-communicable diseases can be reduced by public health interventions by addressing common risk factors.
These include:
It promotes a balanced diet with low free sugar and a lot of fruits and vegetables, and prefers water as the main drink. Stop using any form of tobacco, including arecanut chewing; reduce alcohol consumption; guess use of protective gear when playing sports or traveling on a bike or motorcycle (to reduce the risk of facial injuries).
Proper exposure to fluoride is an essential factor in preventing tooth decay.
Brushing of teeth twice a day with toothpaste containing fluoride (1000-1500 ppm) should be encouraged.
Access to oral health services
The unequal distribution of oral health professionals and the lack of adequate medical facilities to meet population needs in most countries means access to key oral health services is often low. Out-of-pocket costs for oral health care can be a major barrier to accessing care. Paying for the necessary oral health care is one of the main reasons for catastrophic health spending, increasing the risk of poverty and economic hardship.
Who will respond
The World Health Parliament approved a resolution on oral hygiene at 74 World Health Parliaments in 2021. The resolution recommends a transition from traditional approaches to preventive approaches that include promoting oral hygiene in families, schools and workplaces, and includes timely and comprehensive care within the primary health care system. The resolution confirms that oral health should be firmly integrated into the NCD agenda and that oral medical interventions should be included in the national universal health coverage benefit benefit package.
In response to the mandate outlined in the resolution, the Secretariat developed a global strategy on oral hygiene adopted in May 2022 (decision WHA 75.11) and included the Global Oral Health Action Plan (GOHAP) in its report on NCDS pointed out at the 76th World Health Assembly in 2023 (WHA 76.9). GOHAP includes a wide range of actions from member states, WHO secretariats, international partners, civil society organizations and the private sector.
In 2024, the Bangkok Declaration – Health without oral health was not adopted as a result of the first global oral hygiene conference held in Bangkok, Thailand from November 26-29. The declaration advocates for the enhancement of oral disease as a global public health priority. The Bangkok Declaration reiterates member states’ commitment to the NCD, UHC and the 2021 Landmark resolution on oral hygiene to advance the prevention and control of oral diseases as part of the environmental agenda. It highlights the need to strengthen health systems through a primary healthcare approach, ensuring that environmental sustainability and climate resilience are central factors.
reference
1. FerlayJ, Ervik M, Lam F, Laversanne M, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Soerjomataram I, Bray F (2024). Global Cancer Observation Deck: Today’s Cancer. Lyon, France: International Cancer Research Institute. Available from https://gco.iarc.who.int/today
2. SalariN, Darvishi N, Heydari M, Bokaee S, Darvishi F, Mohammadi M. j Oral oral Maxillofuck Surgery. 2021; S2468-7855 (21) 00118X. doi: 10.1016/j.jormas.2021.05.008.
