Global Oral Health Crisis: 3.7 Billion Affected, Prevention Challenges

The global oral health crisis affects approximately 3.7 billion individuals, with oral diseases presenting a significant health burden globally. Despite being largely preventable, these conditions lead to pain, discomfort, disfigurement, and in severe cases, even death. The most prevalent oral health issue is untreated dental caries in permanent teeth, ranking as the most common health problem according to the Global Burden of Disease 2021 report.

Prevention and treatment of oral health conditions pose challenges due to their costly nature, often not covered under national universal health coverage schemes. Many low- and middle-income countries lack adequate services for preventing and managing oral health issues, exacerbating the crisis. These diseases stem from modifiable risk factors like sugar consumption, tobacco and alcohol use, poor hygiene practices, and underlying social and commercial determinants, mirroring risk factors for noncommunicable diseases.

Oral health conditions primarily include dental caries, periodontal diseases, tooth loss, and oral cancers, with prevalence on the rise globally due to urbanization and changing lifestyles. Factors such as insufficient fluoride exposure, high-sugar diets, and limited access to oral healthcare services contribute to this trend. Dental caries, for instance, results from plaque converting sugars in food and drinks into acids that erode teeth, leading to pain, tooth loss, and infections.

Periodontal disease, characterized by gum inflammation and potential tooth loss, affects over a billion individuals worldwide, predominantly due to poor oral hygiene and tobacco use. Edentulism, or total tooth loss, often stems from advanced dental issues and poses psychological and functional challenges. Oral cancer, a significant concern, is linked to tobacco, alcohol, and areca nut usage, with rising cases among young individuals due to human papillomavirus infections.

Oro-dental trauma affects around 1 billion people, predominantly children, and can result from various factors like accidents and environmental risks. Noma, a severe gangrenous disease primarily affecting malnourished children, underscores the intersection of poverty, malnutrition, and poor oral hygiene in disease prevalence. Orofacial clefts, another prevalent issue, require surgical intervention for rehabilitation, with genetic predisposition and maternal lifestyle factors playing significant roles.

Addressing oral health inequalities is crucial, as these conditions disproportionately impact economically disadvantaged individuals across all age groups and regions. Public health interventions targeting common risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, and alcohol consumption can help reduce the burden of oral diseases and other noncommunicable diseases. Moreover, promoting fluoride exposure and ensuring access to oral health services are essential strategies for prevention and treatment.

In response to the escalating global oral health crisis, the World Health Organization has emphasized a shift towards preventive approaches, advocating for oral health promotion in various settings. The implementation of the Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023-2030 aims to integrate oral health interventions into national universal health coverage packages, emphasizing the importance of oral health within the broader noncommunicable disease agenda. Through collaborative efforts involving Member States, international partners, and civil society organizations, the WHO strives to elevate oral health as a global public health priority, emphasizing the critical role of primary healthcare and environmental sustainability in addressing oral health challenges.