Oral health is more than just a smile: it is an essential part of overall health and well-being. Despite its importance, nearly 50% of the world’s population suffers from oral diseases such as cavities, gingivitis and periodontitis, which often overlooks the connection between oral health and overall health.
This statistic is all the more compelling given that additional research shows that diseases like periodontitis can extend far beyond the mouth, contributing to major health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory infections. The consequences of neglected oral health can also extend to mental well-being and socioeconomic development, impacting everything from an individual’s self-esteem and social interactions to their professional growth and economic stability.
To effectively address this problem, we must first recognize the impact of oral health on a number of health outcomes. This recognition underscores the urgent need for a more integrated, prevention-focused approach that recognizes the critical role of oral health.
The Burden of Oral Health Disparities
Oral health disparities are a major public health issue. Research shows that the main barriers to accessing dental care include high cost, lack of accessibility to dental services, geographic isolation, fear, anxiety, and lack of oral health knowledge.
Like many noncommunicable diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, oral diseases are chronic and strongly linked to historically underserved populations such as children, older adults, Blacks, Latinos, and Indigenous people, among other groups.
The impacts extend beyond health to economies and societies as a whole. In 2019, the economic burden of oral diseases in 194 countries was $710 billion. This includes $387 billion in spending on oral disease treatment and $323 billion in lost productivity. The social consequences are equally profound, with poor oral health contributing to poor school attendance, disruption to family life and reduced productivity at work; this figure exceeds the economic impact of hypertensive heart disease, asthma and some cancers.
Ignoring these oral health problems not only worsens the quality of life of these vulnerable groups, but also imposes considerable, and potentially avoidable, economic burdens. Addressing these disparities is not only a matter of improving health outcomes, but also an economic imperative that can lead to broader societal benefits.
A unified approach to addressing gaps in oral health care
Addressing the harsh realities of oral health disparities paves the way for identifying concrete solutions, such as improving oral health literacy globally.
Our investments in the next generation of oral care products, our communication about the power of preventative oral health, and our multidisciplinary work with healthcare professionals and professional associations are helping to close the oral health gap.
Colgate-Palmolive and the World Economic Forum’s Oral Health Affinity Group have released a report outlining the business case for a global commitment to investing in oral health. In the report, the Oral Health Affinity Group calls on stakeholders to prioritize accessible and preventative oral health measures. Addressing these disparities is a critical cornerstone of any comprehensive strategy to improve overall health outcomes.
The facts are clear: when we improve oral health, we have a direct positive impact on a multitude of global health issues. It is imperative that different sectors come together to collaborate and elevate the importance of oral health in public and health agendas. This paves the way for a future where oral diseases are proactively prevented, universally recognized, and treated as an integral part of each individual’s well-being.
