Oral Diseases: A Global Health Burden

The WHO published the Global Oral Health Status Report, pointing out that half of the world’s population suffers from an oral disease, which are more prevalent in low and middle-income countries. In Mexico, seven out of every 10 adults have a periodontal disease. 

“WHO is committed to providing guidance and support to countries so that all people, wherever they live and whatever their income, have the knowledge and tools needed to look after their teeth and mouths, and to access services for prevention and care when they need them,” said Tedros Adhanom, Director General, WHO. 

Oral healthcare services are often inaccessible to vulnerable or disadvantaged groups, regardless of the country. However, in low-income countries, health professionals tend to be concentrated in urban areas, forcing people in rural areas to spend more time and money in the search for a professional. “In most countries, dental treatments account for an average of 5 percent of total healthcare expenditure and 20 percent of out-of-pocket patient costs,” wrote Juan Carlos Borgatta, CEO, Borgatta, on MBN. 

In 2019, the total direct expenditure for oral diseases among the UN’s 194 members was US$287 billion. In Mexico, the per capita dental expenditures ranged between US$1 and US$10 in the same year. 

In the last 30 years, untreated oral diseases have increased by 1 billion, reads the report. The pandemic worsened this problem as there was a larger consumption of carbohydrates and sugary products. Personal hygiene also worsened, as reported by MBN. In 2021, odontology services offered by Mexico’s Ministry of Health increased over 60 percent compared to 2020.

“Most oral diseases are preventable through self-care or with simple, evidence-based and cost-effective population-wide measures including action on the wider social, economic and political determinants of health, making it possible to reduce the disease burden significantly and limit negative impacts,” says the report. 

Untreated dental cavities in permanent teeth is the most common oral disease in the world. In Mexico, 90 percent of the population are affected by caries and 70 percent have gum disease, according to IMSS.

Mexico’s General Health Law considers prevention and control of oral diseases as basic health services. IMSS, for example, includes oral diseases in its PrevenIMSS strategy and aims to promote hygienic habits to reduce the prevalence of these diseases. 

“Guaranteeing oral health is the principle for having comprehensive health, since the stomatognathic system is in charge of chewing, salivation and swallowing, physiologically it allows us to feed and express ourselves,” said Jesus Eduardo Pérez, Head of the First Level Stomatology Area, IMSS.