According to WHO, 3.5 billion people suffer from oral diseases

A new report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that 3.5 billion people suffer from oral disease, with three out of four living in low- and middle-income countries.

Tedros Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO, said in a statement on Friday.

Mr. Ghebreyesus said that oral health has long been neglected in global health, but many oral diseases can be prevented and treated with the cost-effective measures described in the report.

According to him, in a first-ever comprehensive look, the State of the World's Oral Health report analyzed key areas and markers in 194 countries, and shows that cases have increased by one billion over the past 30 years.

He said the main reason was that many people did not have access to prevention and treatment.

"A billion people suffer from serious gum disease, the most common oral diseases are due to dental caries.

“Gum disease, tooth loss and oral cancer are among the most common oral diseases, while tooth decay is the most common disease worldwide, affecting approximately 2.5 billion people,” Ghebreyesus said.

WHO boss says serious gum disease, a leading cause of total tooth loss, affects an estimated 1 billion people worldwide and around 380,000 new cases of cancer of the mouth are diagnosed every year.

According to him, the report highlights the inequality of access to oral health services, with vulnerable and disadvantaged populations being the most affected.

He said people with low incomes and disabilities; older people living alone or in care facilities; those in remote and rural communities; and people from minority groups, carry a higher burden of oral disease.

Mr. Ghebreyesus said that from cardiovascular disease to diabetes and mental disorders, the inequality pattern parallels other non-communicable diseases (NCDs)

He said common risk factors for NCDs, such as high sugar consumption, tobacco and alcohol, also contribute to the global oral health crisis.

“WHO is committed to providing guidance and support to countries so that all people, wherever they live and whatever their income, have the knowledge and tools to take care of their teeth and from their mouths

"And also to access prevention and care services when they need them," Ghebreyesus said.

He said that only a small percentage of the world's population was covered by essential oral health services, and those who needed them most often had the least access.

“The report highlighted key barriers to oral health services, including high out-of-pocket expenses, which have often led to catastrophic costs and financial burdens on families and communities,” he said. .

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The WHO boss said highly specialized providers use expensive high-tech equipment and these services are not integrated into primary health care models.

According to him, poor information and surveillance systems, combined with a low priority given to oral health research, are bottlenecks for the development of more effective interventions and policies.< /p>

He said opportunities to improve global oral health include taking a public health approach by addressing common risk factors.

(NAN)

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