Reimagining a healthier future: Why oral health is imperative

The mouth is the clinical gateway to the rest of the body, yet oral health is fundamentally deprioritized by people, governments, and health care professionals. With the 2030 sustainable development agenda deadline fast approaching, experts agree that needs to change.

Oral diseases are the most common noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs, in the world. Every year, 3.7 billion people — the majority in lower- and middle-income countries — experience an oral disease such as gum disease or cavities. If left untreated, they can lead to the development and worsening of other NCDs such as diabetes, heart disease, and mental health issues.

“We must recognize that oral health is a foundational pillar of overall health. We need to elevate oral health on the broader health agenda and get oral diseases the recognition they deserve as being the most overlooked and most common of noncommunicable diseases.” said Esha Gupta, head of global health and social impact at Colgate-Palmolive, the worldwide leader in oral health whose Colgate brand is found in more homes than any other, according to Kantar’s Brand Footprint.

To address this, it’s essential to raise awareness within communities about oral hygiene, as this helps children form healthy habits and behaviors that last for the rest of their lives and prevent NCDs, Jessica Winn, lead adviser of multilateral and strategic partnerships at Save the Children USA, told Devex.

But historically, oral health has been missing from the NCD conversation and thus lacking in investment. A sign of optimism came at this year’s United Nations General Assembly, or UNGA80, where the fourth U.N. high-level meeting, or HLM4, on the prevention of NCDs and promotion of health and well-being, took place.

It’s also where member states renewed their commitments to preventing the rise of NCDs overall by 2030 via a new political declaration, which is expected to pass a vote in the United Nations General Assembly in the coming weeks. For the first time, oral health was included in the proposed text with a dedicated clause that commits countries to scaling up health promotion, prevention, and early detection to address the climbing rates of oral health conditions. To tackle NCDs more broadly, it also commits them to promoting healthy diets, strengthening tobacco and alcohol control policies, and boosting financing for NCDs.

“[The] U.N. General Assembly has been a fantastic week in terms of attention to NCDs, making sure that oral health is highlighted … and how, if you can prevent NCDs, that makes lifesaving work even more cost-effective,” said Winn, adding that this is even more crucial at a time when resources need to go further.

The new wave of interest follows the 2024 release of the World Health Organization’s global strategy and action plan on oral health and the World Economic Forum’s launch of the Oral Health Affinity Group in 2023 — a coalition of public and private sector players created in collaboration with Colgate-Palmolive.

Supplementing HLM4, on the sidelines of UNGA80, Colgate-Palmolive’s flagship oral health education initiative Bright Smiles, Bright Futures®, or BSBF, program convened global health experts, policymakers, and public and private sector leaders for a roundtable discussion on the connection between oral health and overall health, the value of global partnerships, and the importance of oral health education.

How to improve oral health globally

Despite high-level commitments coming through for oral health, there is still a bottleneck to local action, Gupta said, explaining that more is needed to improve preventive care and early education.

Colgate-Palmolive is helping to make these actions a reality through BSBF. The program, which engages a range of stakeholders, including nonprofit partners such as Save the Children, has reached over 2 billion children and their families since 1991 in over 100 countries — such as Mexico, the Philippines, and Kenya — while shaping public health policy at the local level.

“Preventative education and resources can really make a significant difference,” said Winn, adding that for many families, distance to facilities or cost are barriers to dental checkups. “With Colgate, we’ve been able to … use mobile buses to reach those communities. Our work is driven by the community needs.”

In Kenya and Tanzania, this has meant BSBF works alongside the ministries of health and local nurses to ensure mothers have knowledge around dental hygiene as a means to educate the whole family. In Mexico City, the Mexican Dental Association Foundation and BSBF support a law that requires daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste in all public preschools and elementary schools. And in the Philippines, a partnership with the Department of Education, local governments, and the Philippine Dental Association allows for BSBF education, fluoride treatments, and supervised toothbrushing directly within schools.

Collaboration and partnerships for greater impact

While community-based programs are making significant progress, scaling this work requires cross-sector collaboration, according to Gupta. “No single organization, whether you’re a government, nonprofit, or private sector, can do it alone; nor should we,” she said. “There is such a strong, powerful aspect of public-private sector partnerships to truly advance global health.”

BSBF is an example of a successful social impact and community outreach program, but it is not the only way that Colgate-Palmolive is engaging and partnering to address the issues. Over the years, it has partnered with learning institutions to provide scholarships and grants to further dental training and bolster the dental profession.

It is also collaborating when it comes to filling the clinical science gaps that exist. With partner organizations such as the American Dental Association, the Hispanic Dental Association, and the U.S.-based National Dental Association, the company works with long-standing partners focused on bringing awareness to oral health.

Going forward — in a bid to action the political declaration on NCDs and accelerate action around oral health — more collaboration, investment, and recognition of the importance of oral health is needed, Gupta and Winn agreed.

While that includes areas of clinical science, oral health really needs to be centered as a part of health system strengthening, Winn said. “We need to improve coordination between health and education sectors, and foster collaborative partnerships … that can drive innovation and sustain that investment in oral health and beyond,” she said.

All of that can only be done with continued support and partnership across sectors. “It’s really about working together, elevating the narrative around oral health, and leading to a better and healthier future for all,” Gupta concluded.