The link between dental health and overall health

Dental diseases affect almost half the world’s population, with nearly 3.5 billion people suffering from dental health conditions, the most prevalent noncommunicable disease globally. Good dental health is about having a healthy smile, which impacts on your overall health, well being and quality of life.

In years gone by, dental health has been isolated within health systems in many countries, separating the mouth from the body, thus underestimating the importance of dental health for general health. Through its Whole Body Health project, the World Dental Federation (FDI) is highlighting the important relationship of dental and systemic health, and promotes the latest research.

Dental health is a key indicator of general health, and poor oral health can increase the risk of multiple health conditions including cardiovascular diseases, increased risk of stroke, and diabetes. Diabetes is linked periodontal disease, each able to influence and worsen the other. Periodontal disease during pregnancy is linked to low birth weight, preterm birth and pre-eclampsia.

The Whole Body Health Diagram is enables dental health professionals and the wider healthcare community to access the latest research linking oral health with overall health and these relationships, and to support FDI’s Vision 2030, which maps out effective prevention and management of dental diseases to collaborate across health disciplines to improve health and well being.