ORAL HEALTH EFFECTS US ALL: WHY oral health matters

Most oral health conditions are preventable and treatable in early stages, yet they remain a global challenge. Common issues include dental caries, periodontal diseases, tooth loss, and oral cancers. According to the *WHO Global Oral Health Status Report (2022) oral diseases affect 3.5 billion people globally, with 75% of those affected living in middle-income countries. Globally, 2 billion people suffer from caries in permanent teeth, while 514 million children experience caries in primary teeth.

Essential oral health care involves safe, cost-effective interventions at individual and community levels to promote health, prevent disease, and provide treatment, including rehabilitative services. Population-based public health measures, like addressing social and commercial determinants, are cost-effective with high impact. Midstream strategies, such as fostering supportive environments in schools, workplaces, and community settings, are key to achieving vast improvements. In the *WHO Global Strategy and action plan on Oral Health (WHO) 2023 to 2030 Strategic Objective 2 emphasizes oral health promotion and disease prevention, addressing social and commercial determinants. 

*Social determinants of health (SDH) significantly influence children’s oral health. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) highlights access to care, behavior, and health inequalities as key factors. Examples of SDH include food insecurity, overcrowding, and limited access to preventive products, creating barriers to maintaining oral hygiene. Families facing multiple risks are at greater risk of caries. Currently, it is well-understood that untreated oral health conditions may result in impaired daily activities including poor sleeping and eating. However, the *impact of oral health conditions may not just be limited to the children themselves but can impact their families. 

*Poverty’s grip on oral health and individuals in poverty may face challenges in maintaining consistent and effective oral hygiene habits. This manifests in limited access to products like toothpaste and floss due to financial constraints. Education gaps also contribute to poor hygiene practices. Addressing these challenges requires education, increased access to affordable products, and targeted interventions which can focus on increasing access to affordable oral hygiene products, such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, in poverty-stricken communities. Research makes it clear that the experience of *homelessness has a significant negative impact on an individual’s oral health and creates barriers to accessing treatment. Poor oral health was shown to have a considerable adverse effect on homeless people’s quality of life and ability to move on from homelessness

*Hygiene poverty worsens oral health disparities, the *impact of the cost-of-living crisis occurs when a person’s household income is such that they are forcing individuals to choose between rent, food, or toiletries. Financial pressures limit access to hygiene essentials, widening inequalities. Four in five (80%) experiencing hygiene poverty report negative impacts on affording toiletries. This crisis exacerbates mental health issues, with 56% feeling anxious or ashamed.

Oral health disparities are closely tied to socioeconomic status, persisting across all ages and regions. Addressing these disparities requires comprehensive strategies, including public health measures, targeted interventions, and systemic changes to improve access and reduce barriers.

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