According to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) document, 3.5 billion individuals are impacted by dental ailments, with three out of every four individuals affected residing in low and middle-income nations.
In a statement issued on Friday, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus remarked on this.
Although numerous oral diseases could be averted and treated utilizing the report’s cost-effective suggestions, Ghebreyesus asserted that dental health has been consistently overlooked in global health efforts.
He indicated that the Global Oral Health Status Report assessed crucial areas and indicators across 194 countries in an unprecedented comprehensive analysis and found that the number of occurrences has grown by one billion in the last 30 years.
As per him, the main reason is that a significant number of individuals lack access to prevention and treatment services.
“One billion individuals are afflicted by severe gum disease, with the most prevalent oral ailments arising from tooth decay.
” Gum disease, tooth loss, and oral cancers are among the most widespread dental issues, while tooth decay remains the single most frequent condition globally, impacting an estimated 2.5 billion people,” Ghebreyesus noted.
It is estimated that a billion individuals suffer from intense gum disease, which is a leading cause of total tooth loss, according to the head of WHO, and 380,000 new oral cancer cases are identified annually.
He pointed out that the report highlights unequal availability of oral healthcare, disproportionately affecting marginalized and vulnerable groups.
According to him, oral diseases are more prevalent among low-income and disabled individuals, elderly persons living alone or in care facilities, residents of isolated and rural areas, and members of minority communities.
As noted by Ghebreyesus, the pattern of disparity parallels that of other noncommunicable diseases, such as diabetes, mental health disorders, and cardiovascular conditions (NCDs).
He mentioned that the worldwide oral health issue has been intensified by NCD risk factors like high sugar consumption, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption.
He explained that insufficient data and surveillance systems, alongside the minimal emphasis placed on research in oral health, pose challenges to developing more effective interventions and regulations.
Approaching public health by tackling common risk factors, he stated, was one method to enhance oral health globally.
