FDI Calls on Governments to Implement UN Oral Health Commitments

On World Oral Health Day, the World Dental Federation (FDI) calls on governments to implement the commitments on oral health adopted in the United Nations political declaration on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health by 2025 into concrete actions.

The declaration, adopted on 15 December 2025, represents a significant turning point for the global perspective on oral health. Globally, nearly 3.7 billion people, or almost half of the world's population, are affected by oral diseases, which have traditionally received little attention in global health strategies. Their inclusion in the NCD agenda is the result of over a decade of sustained advocacy by a global community committed to oral health, including the FDI and its partners.

Governments must now translate this political commitment into national legislation, sustainable financing, and integrated health programmes to strengthen prevention efforts and expand access to essential oral health care, particularly for populations facing the greatest barriers.

World Oral Health Day is a global platform to mobilize policymakers, health professionals, civil society, and the public for advancing actions in oral health. The campaign, celebrated every year on 20 March, highlights the vital role oral health plays in overall health, well-being, and quality of life.

This year also marks the final chapter of the FDI's three-year global campaign, 'A Healthy Mouth Is…'. The theme for 2026, 'A Healthy Mouth Is a Happy Life', emphasises the importance of oral health at every stage of life.

'A healthy mouth supports the ability of individuals to eat, speak, connect, and live with dignity and confidence from pregnancy into childhood and into old age,' says Dr Anna Lella, Chair of the World Oral Health Day Task Team. 'Yet, oral diseases remain some of the most common health conditions globally, though largely preventable.'

Oral diseases share many of the same modifiable risk factors as other NCDs – including tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, and unhealthy, sugary diets—therefore their inclusion in national NCD prevention strategies is both purposeful and significant.

'The UN political declaration has altered the political landscape for oral health', says Assist. Prof. Dr Nikolai Sharkov, FDI President. 'Policymakers and governments must now integrate oral health into universal health coverage efforts and national NCD strategies, investing in prevention. Close collaboration between sectors and stakeholders is crucial to reduce disparities in access to healthcare.'

Whether significant progress can be made will depend on strong cross-sectoral partnerships, such as support from partners like Haleon, Smile Train, Solventum, and Dentsply Sirona, which promote global initiatives like World Oral Health Day.

'While global recognition is a significant step forward, real impact is only achieved through partnerships. By collaborating with organisations such as the FDI and its global network of national dental associations, we are able to translate global momentum into effective actions at the local level to improve daily health and implement initiatives like World Oral Health Day in communities across the globe,' says Jayant Singh, Global Head of Oral Health at Haleon.

'Everyone must participate in promoting oral health. By combining our efforts across sectors, we can extend access to life-changing cleft care for those in greatest need,' says Dr Mónica Domínguez, Director of Global Oral Health Programmes at Smile Train.

Today's global moment of awareness reminds us that the real challenge now lies in maintaining political momentum and turning this awareness into measurable progress for people and communities worldwide.

'Oral health is crucial for overall well-being and quality of life. True progress requires collaboration, and when the private sector, non-profit organizations, and public health systems come together, we can strengthen prevention, expand access to care, and improve outcomes for individuals everywhere,' says Karim Mansour, President Dental Solutions at Solventum.

The goal is clear: to eliminate disparities so that oral health is recognized as a universal right for all by 2030.

About World Oral Health Day

World Oral Health Day (WOHD), held annually on March 20, was initiated by the World Dental Federation (FDI) to raise global awareness of the prevention and control of oral diseases.

Editor's note: Image rights belong to the respective publisher. Image rights: Alessandro Biascioli