Oral health experts from around Europe have launched a new manifesto for improving oral health around the EU. The manifesto ‘Why Oral Health Matters’, features five main policy areas that will advance oral health in Europe.
The recommendations have been published by the Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe.
Dr Nigel Carter OBE, who is Chair of the Platform, presented the manifesto in Brussels and says a European-wide approach to reducing oral disease is essential.
Dr Carter says: “Having good oral health is a fundamental right for every European citizen. This can only be achieved by ensuring consideration of oral health across all policy areas. We have created an exciting opportunity for health leaders from all around Europe to come together and deliver effective solutions for reducing the burden of oral disease”.
Tooth decay is the most prevalent non-communicable disease in Europe and worldwide.
Why Oral Health Matters calls on policy makers to take action to actively promote good oral health through the following five policy recommendations:
- promote – joined-up policies and adopt adequate budgets;
- support – adoption of the WHO recommendations to reduce sugar consumption;
- encourage – countries to adopt European evidence-based best practices on oral health promotion and education;
- adopt – policy recommendations to support the achievement of universal health coverage and SDG Goal 3, including access for all EU citizens to affordable quality oral healthcare; and,
- ensure – systematic collection of relevant oral health data to allow for better data-driven policy-making.
The full manifesto is available to download here: www.oralhealthplatform.eu.
From: www.dentalhealth.org
