WHO's action for continuous improvement in oral health.

Abstract

The worldwide rapidly growing burden of chronic diseases is closely linked to unhealthy environments and to lifestyles that include diets rich in sugars, widespread use of tobacco and excessive consumption of alcohol (1). Most oral diseases are closely related to these factors and are also dependent on clean water, adequate sanitation, proper oral hygiene and appropriate exposure to fluorides (2). Oral disease control and public health need to take integrated approaches to health promotion and disease prevention based on common risk factors. Mandates which are particularly important for WHO and the work of the Oral Health Programme are: Global Strategy on Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (WHA 53); Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (WHA 57); Health Promotion and Healthy Lifestyles (WHA 57); Cancer Prevention and Control (WHA 58); International Plan of Action on Ageing (WHA 58), and Promotion of healthy lifestyles (WHA 58). These World Health Assembly Resolutions provide a supporting framework for Resolutions specific to Oral Health (WHA 42.39). National programmes which include measures at individual, professional and community levels are effective in preventing most oral diseases (3). Worldwide emphasis on health promotion and primary prevention of oral diseases is insufficient and developing countries and those with economies and health systems in transition face considerable challenges to provide universally accessible or affordable intervention and care. WHO has identified priority action areas for countries to consider when initiating or strengthening national oral health programmes: --effective use of fluorides for prevention of dental caries: the goal is to implement appropriate means of maintaining a constant low level of fluoride in as many mouths as possible through fluoridated drinking-water, salt, milk or affordable toothpaste (4); --oral health and prevention of oral disease through a healthy diet, i.e. advocacy for reduced consumption of sugars and increased intake of fruits and vegetables (5); --control of tobacco-related oral disease by involving oral health professionals in tobacco cessation and preventing children and youth from adopting the tobacco habit (6); --oral health through health-promoting schools (7), based on the WHO School Health Initiative;--oral health improvement among elderly people (8) through health promotion and age-friendly primary health care; --integration of oral health into national and community health programmes based on oral health-general health-quality of life interrelationships; --development of oral health systems and orientation of services towards prevention and health promotion; strengthening the prevention of HIV/AIDS-related oral disease, particularly in developing countries (9); --development of oral health information systems: evidence for oral health policy, formulation of goals and targets (10, 11) and measuring progress (12, 13); --research for oral health, oriented towards bridging the gaps in research between developed and developing countries (14). …