UN Mandate Puts Teeth into the Global Fight for Oral Health

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – March 20, 2026 – On World Oral Health Day, a global coalition of health advocates is calling on governments to transform a historic United Nations declaration into tangible action, a move that could reshape healthcare for nearly half the world's population.

The FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) is spearheading the charge, urging policymakers to implement the commitments made in the December 2025 UN Political Declaration on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health. This landmark document, for the first time, formally recognizes the crucial role of oral health in the broader fight against NCDs like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, affecting an estimated 3.7 billion people worldwide.

For years, oral diseases—from untreated tooth decay to severe gum disease—have been one of the most common yet neglected global health crises. The UN’s recognition marks a pivotal victory following more than a decade of sustained advocacy, moving dentistry from the periphery to a central position in global health strategy. The challenge now shifts from political recognition to practical implementation.

A Hard-Won Victory on the Global Stage

The inclusion of oral health in the UN’s NCD agenda is being hailed as a paradigm shift. Historically, oral healthcare has been siloed, treated as a separate, often cosmetic, concern rather than an integral component of overall well-being. This policy isolation has persisted despite overwhelming evidence linking oral health to systemic health.

"The UN Political Declaration changed the policy landscape for oral health," said Assist. Prof. Dr Nikolai Sharkov, FDI President. He stressed that the onus is now on governments to "integrate oral health into universal health coverage efforts and national NCD strategies, while investing in prevention."

This integration is both practical and essential because oral diseases share many common risk factors with other major NCDs. Modifiable behaviors such as tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, and diets high in sugar are primary drivers of tooth decay and gum disease, as well as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. By tackling these root causes collectively, health systems can achieve greater efficiency and better outcomes.

The statistics underscore the urgency. According to the Global Burden of Disease study, untreated dental caries in permanent teeth is the single most prevalent health condition globally, affecting over 2.5 billion people. Severe periodontal disease impacts another billion, often leading to tooth loss, chronic pain, and significant impacts on quality of life. This burden falls disproportionately on vulnerable populations and those in low- and middle-income countries, where three out of four people with oral diseases reside.

The Challenge of Turning Policy into Practice

While the UN declaration provides a powerful mandate, the path from political commitment to accessible patient care is fraught with obstacles. Experts identify several key barriers that nations must overcome to make good on their promises.

Chief among them are financial constraints. Oral healthcare is often underfunded and frequently excluded from national universal health coverage (UHC) packages, leaving patients to bear high out-of-pocket costs. Sustainable financing models are desperately needed to make essential care affordable.

Furthermore, a global shortage and inequitable distribution of the dental workforce hinder access, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Integrating oral health services into primary healthcare settings is seen as a critical solution, but this requires training primary care providers, establishing referral pathways, and overcoming rigid, siloed healthcare structures.

This year’s World Oral Health Day theme, "A Happy Mouth Is… A Happy Life," highlights the profound impact of oral health across a person’s entire life. "From pregnancy, early childhood to older age, a healthy mouth supports people's ability to eat, speak, connect and live with dignity and confidence," explained Dr Anna Lella, Chair of the World Oral Health Day Working Group. "Yet oral diseases remain among the most common health conditions worldwide, even though they are largely preventable."

The Power of Partnership in Bridging the Gap

No single entity can solve a crisis of this magnitude. FDI and its partners emphasize that strong, cross-sector collaboration is essential to drive meaningful progress. The campaign is supported by major global health and dental industry players, including Haleon, Smile Train, Solventum, and Dentsply Sirona, who are instrumental in translating global momentum into local action.

"While global recognition is a significant step forward, partnerships are what allow real impact to scale," said Jayant Singh, Global Head of Oral Health at Haleon. He noted that working with FDI’s global network enables them to bring initiatives "to life in communities around the world."

This sentiment is echoed across the coalition. Dr Mónica Domínguez, Director of Global Oral Health Programs at Smile Train, which provides life-changing cleft care, stated, "When we join forces across sectors, we can expand access to life-changing cleft care for those who need it most."

Karim Mansour, President of Dental Solutions at Solventum, reinforced the need for a unified front. "Real progress depends on collaboration, and when private, nonprofit, and public health sectors unite, we can strengthen prevention, expand access to care, and improve outcomes for people everywhere."

The Race to 2030: Oral Health as a Human Right

The ultimate ambition underpinning this global movement is the recognition of oral health as a fundamental human right, accessible to all by 2030. This goal aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the World Health Organization's Global Strategy on Oral Health, which envisions universal coverage for oral health by the end of the decade.

Achieving this requires a human rights-based approach to healthcare—one that actively works to eliminate discrimination and reduce the stark inequalities that define the current landscape. Disparities persist not only between high- and low-income countries but also within nations, where marginalized groups, including low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities, are often left behind.

The 2025 UN declaration provides the political leverage to hold governments accountable for the progressive realization of this right. As today’s global moment of awareness makes clear, the ink on the declaration is dry, but the real work of building equitable health systems has just begun. The goal is clear: to create a world where a healthy mouth is not a luxury for a few, but a recognized right for all.