Oral health is a major public health concern across Europe. There is an ever increasing wealth of evidence on the links between oral health and general health.

Prioritising improvement of oral health across Europe will lead to healthier EU citizens by helping to prevent and protect against other diseases and result in a reduction in overall health care expenditure for treating other chronic diseases.

Oral health has an impact throughout the life course – from childhood dental decay and development through to general health, physical and cognitive function in old age and on the quality of life for all age groups.

Oral diseases share common risk factors with other non-communicable diseases and like them disproportionately affect the most socially disadvantaged.

Oral diseases are totally preventable through good oral care routines, supported by a health promoting environment. Promotion, prevention and protection are entirely in line with EU health priorities as defined by Commissioner Andriukaitis.

To learn more about the links between oral health and general health, and the Platform’s view for moving forward, download the policy position paper, ‘Oral Health and General Health: Putting the mouth back in the body’.