Support for European policies

The report states that despite a reduction in global caries, those from poorer backgrounds will still be plagued by dental disease; access to oral healthcare services remains ‘a major health problem’, while the economic impact of oral health related problems is forecast to rise by 2020.

The report has also identified that half of the European population may suffer from severe gum disease, a leading cause of tooth loss among adults.

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Nigel Carter, welcomed the recommendations put forward in the report. He said: “The Foundation unequivocally supports the policy recommendations detailed in the report.  Addressing existing oral health inequalities is a vital step towards improving oral health across the globe.

“By educating the public on prevention and better oral hygiene practices, a key aim of the Foundation, we hope to see a further reduction in the level of gum disease and tooth decay seen globally.  These are two highly prevalent yet highly preventable diseases, and although we have seen vast improvements over a number of years, there’s a collective responsibility to review our oral hygiene routine and seek ways in which improve it.”