Better Oral Health - European platform

About oral health

Oral health means more than good teeth

It is a determinant factor for quality of life, essential for well-being, and an integral part of general health. In the European Union, the overall burden and economic cost of traditional oral diseases is considerable: dental caries and periodontal disease affect 60-90% of school-aged children and the vast majority of adults. Only a minority of Europeans (41%) can claim to have all their natural teeth. And the costs of traditional curative dental care are rising: on average, 5 to 10% of public health spending is devoted to oral health, with costs doubling in the past decade and making oral diseases the fourth most expensive group of diseases to treat.

At the same time, oral disease are easily preventable by routine oral hygiene practices, including the use of fluoride containing toothpaste, flossing, chewing gum and regular dental check-ups. In light of this, trying to unlock the full potential of oral prevention seems to be a highly promising policy approach so as to reduce the considerable burden and costs of oral diseases within the EU.