Oral Health Platform

The mission of the Platform is to improve oral health and enhance cost-effective prevention of oral diseases in Europe.

[Oral Health Platform @EUOralHealth]

It’s here! 🔥

A common risk factor approach, combating health inequalities, and ambitious asks for EU policymakers and EU Member States lay the foundation of our upcoming work!

Take a look at our brand new #Manifesto for the next #EUmandate here: https://t.co/XeuBYaQh9M

[Oral Health Platform @EUOralHealth]

🚀 Our new website is LIVE! 🦷🌍

Launched at a pivotal time for EU & global health, it’s your go-to hub for oral health policy, advocacy & action.

Explore it now & help us spread the word!

🔗 https://t.co/SLFPv9TFxi

#OralHealth #NCDs #EUhealth #HealthPolicy #PBOHE

[Oral Health Foundation @dentalhealthorg]

Roses are red, violets are blue,
A nice healthy smile looks good on you!
Brush every day, keep bacteria away,
And your lovely smile will be free of decay! ✨😁

Happy Valentine's Day from the Oral Health Foundation ❤️

[Oral Health Foundation @dentalhealthorg]

Some medical conditions are caused by or made worse by poor oral health. Gum disease can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, strokes, Alzheimer’s and diabetes. It is important to tell your dentist about your medical history.

https://t.co/kDVG20tBYb

[Benoit Varenne @benoit_varenne]

🚀This week in Bangkok, history was made as over 350 Member States, @UN Agencies, and non-state actors attended the first-ever @WHO Global Oral Health Meeting. 🎉MS adopted the landmark #BangkokDeclaration, which promises to transform #oralhealth into a global health priority.

[Oral Health Platform @EUOralHealth]

🌟 Reflecting on Bangkok! 🌟

😁 It was a privilege to engage in meaningful discussions in Thailand 🇹🇭 with a community of inspiring professionals and civil society stakeholders, all united by a shared commitment to advancing global oral health. Together, we achieved a #historic milestone!

🌍 Delegates from 110+ countries gathered to adopt the #BangkokDeclaration - a key step in preparing for the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). The declaration underscores the critical role of oral health in addressing the global burden of NCDs and aligns with efforts to integrate oral health within broader public health strategies.

🚀 Witnessing the Platform’s outstanding representation at the hashtag#WHOGlobalOralHealthMeeting was both humbling and a proud moment. It showcased the power of collaboration and dialogue in shaping the future of oral health.

💡 We are proud to be contributing to these critical discussions. Our delegation advocated for patient-centred solutions, equitable access, and policies addressing sugar, alcohol, nicotine, and tobacco consumption. The civil society can play a central role in the implementation of the #WHOGlobalOralActionPlan, and we are thrilled to engage actively to ensure this.
🔗 Find more about what our Platform as a member of the civil society is calling for at https://t.co/SUIJ91OI3h.

Together, let’s build a world in which there is #NoHealthWithoutOralHealth! 💪

#SmileYourWayToAHealthyLife #GlobalOralHealthMeeting2024 #UHCforOralHealth #OralHealthForAll #GlobalOralHealthActionPlan #GlobalCoalitionOnOralHealth #BangkokDeclarationOnOralHealth #PrimaryHealthCare #NCD #RoadTo2025 #4thUNHLMonNCDs #UHC2030 #HealthforAll

[Oral Health Platform @EUOralHealth]

🫀 We welcome today’s adoption of the @EUCouncil Conclusions on Cardiovascular Health. This milestone emphasizes the importance of prevention, health literacy, and equitable access to care in reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) across the EU.

💡 The Platform is particularly pleased to see periodontal care recognised as a crucial element for cardiovascular health. Periodontitis contributes to systemic inflammation, which is also closely linked to heart disease and stroke. Including periodontal care and broader oral healthcare in prevention strategies is needed for a holistic approach to health.

We're also glad to see the @WHO's Global Oral Health Action Plan highlighted as a key reference document in this area, reinforcing the importance of oral health in broader public health policies.

🖇️ As we work towards a healthier Europe, let’s continue to connect the dots between different health challenges and advocate for integrated approaches to prevention and care.

👏 Kudos to the @EUCouncil and Member States for prioritising cardiovascular health. Let’s ensure oral health remains firmly on the agenda as we move forward!

🔜 We look forward to working with the SANT Committee, Commissioner @OliverVarhelyi, and Member States to ensure inclusion of #OralHealth as an essential component of a future plan of CVD and the EU's NCD prevention policy.

@TomislavSokol @BosseStine @rmkanev @AndrasKulja @V_Andriukaitis

#SmileYourWayToAHealthyLife #CardiovascularHealth #OralHealth #Prevention #HealthPolicy #EU

[Oral Health Platform @EUOralHealth]

🔔 New Update From Bangkok, Thailand 🇹🇭!

📝 We were present at the "Monitoring and surveillance of oral conditions" side event. This session focused on the vital role of data in shaping effective public health policies and interventions.

🙂 Our Chair, Dr Dympna Kavanagh emphasised the importance of incorporating psychosocial consumer or patient-reported outcomes in our advocacy efforts.

Key points discussed included:
📊 Developing more efficient and effective integrated health information systems that include oral health
🛠️ Ensuring these systems inform planning, management, and policy-making to drive better outcomes
🌍 Strengthening data collection and analysis to provide accurate insights for global oral health initiatives

🚀 We’re committed to advocating for these advancements in our efforts to shape a healthier future for all!

Thank you @QMUL, @tcddublin, Ireland
WHO Collaborating Center for Oral Health Education and Research, @MahidolU, Thailand for this brilliant discussion.

#SmileYourWayToAHealthyLife #NoHealthWithoutOralHealth #GlobalOralHealthMeeting2024 #UHCforOralHealth #OralHealthForAll #GlobalOralHealthActionPlan #GlobalCoalitionOnOralHealth #BangkokDeclarationOnOralHealth #PrimaryHealthCare #NCD #RoadTo2025
#4thUNHLMonNCDs #UHC2030 #HealthforAll

[Oral Health Platform @EUOralHealth]

Another Day, Another Side Event! 🇹🇭✨

🌞 We were honoured to be present at the "The WHO Action Plan: A collaborative response from oral health professionals education associations" event, organised by @ADEEorg.

The discussions reinforced key priorities from the WHO Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health 2023–2030, including the need to:
🔑 Engage international professional, research, and dental education associations to align with workforce reform agendas
🌍 Focus support on countries with the most critical oral health workforce shortages
💡 Promote innovative workforce models and consider financial and grant support to assess, strengthen, and diversify the oral health workforce

👉 The event stressed the importance of fostering partnerships to tackle global health challenges effectively. Thank you @ADEEorg for this insightful conversation!

#SmileYourWayToAHealthyLife #NoHealthWithoutOralHealth #GlobalOralHealthMeeting2024 #UHCforOralHealth #OralHealthForAll
#GlobalOralHealthActionPlan #GlobalCoalitionOnOralHealth #BangkokDeclarationOnOralHealth #PrimaryHealthCare #NCD #RoadTo2025 #4thUNHLMonNCDs #UHC2030 #HealthforAll

[Oral Health Platform @EUOralHealth]

😊 Yesterday we had the privilege of participating in the side event "Balancing Sugar Consumption for Oral Health: Addressing Policies linked to Social and Commercial Determinants of Oral Diseases" at the World Health Organization Global Health Meeting in #Bangkok.

💭 The discussions were deeply aligned with the WHO Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health 2023–2030, emphasising the importance of:
✅ Advancing oral health as a public good
✅ Advocating for policies to reduce sugar consumption
✅ Taking a holistic approach to oral health within the broader context of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)

🤲 The event was an inspiring reminder of the power of collaboration among civil society, governments, and professional associations to tackle the root causes of oral health challenges.

@fdiworlddental @UCL_DentalPH @thaihealth

#SmileYourWayToAHealthyLife #NoHealthWithoutOralHealth #GlobalOralHealthMeeting2024 #UHCforOralHealth #OralHealthForAll #GlobalOralHealthActionPlan #GlobalCoalitionOnOralHealth #BangkokDeclarationOnOralHealth #PrimaryHealthCare #NCD #RoadTo2025 #4thUNHLMonNCDs #UHC2030 #HealthforAll

[Oral Health Platform @EUOralHealth]

WE ARE ON THE NEWS! 🎉

Our Chair Dr Dympna Kavanagh spoke with @Euractiv on what the @WHO first-ever Global #OralHealth Meeting represents... ✨

🫷 We are more than aware that oral diseases are the most common noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the world - that includes oral cancer, cavities, gum disease and tooth loss. However, it is important that this message reaches different audiences.

😔 Oral health is an overlooked facet of health. Dental care is often not included in #universalhealthcare, often mistakenly considered a #cosmetic issue. We call for improved access to #affordable oral health care, which cannot be achieved without integrating it into #primaryhealthcare and #universalhealthcare.

💶 Spending for oral disease treatments exceeds that of dementia and even heart disease.

🩷 Engage with this post. Like, repost or comment. This helps us in delivering a message that is already obvious for us that work on a daily basis with health matters, but might not be for others.

#SmileYourWayToAHealthyLife #NoHealthWithoutOralHealth #GlobalOralHealthMeeting2024 #UHCforOralHealth #OralHealthForAll #GlobalOralHealthActionPlan #GlobalCoalitionOnOralHealth #BangkokDeclarationOnOralHealth #PrimaryHealthCare #NCD #RoadTo2025 #4thUNHLMonNCDs #UHC2030 #HealthforAll

[Oral Health Platform @EUOralHealth]

🌟 @DrTedros words resonate deeply with us.

Essential oral health packages must include both oral health #prevention and #promotion and be integrated with primary care.

#SmileYourWayToAHealthyLife #NoHealthWithoutOralHealth

[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus @DrTedros]

Dental caries, gum disease, tooth loss, and oral cancers affect nearly half of the world’s population.

And yet, people continue to face challenges and inequalities in access to oral health care, particularly in low-income communities and other vulnerable groups.

I thank #Thailand for hosting the first @WHO meeting on global oral health — it plays an important role in the preparations for the 2025 #UNGA High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases.

[Department of Health @roinnslainte]

This week the Chief Dental Officer, Dympna Kavanagh, is attending the first ever @WHO Global Oral Health meeting, hosted by Thailand in Bangkok.

[Oral Health Platform @EUOralHealth]

@DrTedros words resonate deeply with us.
We believe that Essential Oral Health Packages must include oral health #prevention and be integrated within primary care. ✨

[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus @DrTedros]

Dental caries, gum disease, tooth loss, and oral cancers affect nearly half of the world’s population.

And yet, people continue to face challenges and inequalities in access to oral health care, particularly in low-income communities and other vulnerable groups.

I thank #Thailand for hosting the first @WHO meeting on global oral health — it plays an important role in the preparations for the 2025 #UNGA High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases.

[Oral Health Platform @EUOralHealth]

💡 "Investing More, Investing Better: Using Economics to Shape Oral Health Policy" 🇹🇭 moderated by none other than our Chair Dr Dympna Kavanagh!

🇹🇭 This was the first side event we attended at World Health Organization Global #OralHealth meeting in Bangkok... And it started strong with our Chair calling for more involvement of civil society to drive interest and action for oral health policy!

Did you know that oral diseases cost the world $710 billion annually? 👀💸
📚 In the EU, treatment costs for oral, dental and jaw diseases rank #3, behind cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, but oral conditions are almost entirely preventable and at an early stage with the right policies and initiatives.

☺️ Thank you @UniHeidelberg, @Heidelberg_HIGH Institute of Global Health, Section for Oral Health Policy Institute, @AmerDentalAssn for giving us additional tools to advocate for oral health prevention and care and for fostering a space where we can learn from each other!

🔗 Click here to see more of our #manifesto: https://t.co/SUIJ91OI3h

#SmileYourWayToAHealthyLife #NoHealthWithoutOralHealth #GlobalOralHealthMeeting2024 #UHCforOralHealth #OralHealthForAll #GlobalOralHealthActionPlan #GlobalCoalitionOnOralHealth #BangkokDeclarationOnOralHealth #PrimaryHealthCare #NCD #RoadTo2025 #4thUNHLMonNCDs #UHC2030 #HealthforAll

[Oral Health Platform @EUOralHealth]

❌ NO SPOILERS! ❌

🚀 Are you passionate about knowing more about oral health policy on an international and European level? Or would you just like to delve into the wonderful world of #OralHealthForAll and learn from experts?

🎧 Our Chair Dr Dympna Kavanagh was on the UCL Dental Public Health podcast "Oral Health Matters" with Professor Richard Watt and Benoit Varenne to discuss:
🎙️ the current & forthcoming developments in global health policy, asking how the research community can best support oral health as a public health priority around the world. 🌍

Listen to this conversation here: https://t.co/EYoWLVJaGQ and share your thoughts with us! 💭

#SmileYourWayToAHealthyLife #NoHealthWithoutOralHealth

[Oral Health Platform @EUOralHealth]

This week is a special week for our Platform... ✨

🌺 Not only are we going to Bangkok 🇹🇭 to follow the discussions on the first-ever World Health Organization Global Oral Health Meeting, but we will also be represented in Strasbourg 🇫🇷🇪🇺 by our Immediate past-Chair Dr. George Tsakos in a @BritChamBxl Healthcare Session in collaboration with @Haleon_health!

➡️ These are really exciting times to follow our work in promoting #HealthCareForAll so do not forget to follow us for more updates on these two major events! 😊

#SmileYourWayToAHealthyLife #NoHealthWithoutOralHealth

[Oral Health Platform @EUOralHealth]

⭐🇪🇺 The Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe congratulates Olivér Várhelyi on his confirmation as the new Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare.

🌍 As Europe faces rising health challenges, from tackling non-communicable diseases to building more resilient healthcare systems, strong leadership and decisive action are imperative.
🦷 Oral health must be recognised as a critical part of overall health and well-being, with far-reaching impacts on millions of lives across the EU. Recent studies increasingly show strong links between oral health and systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity and diabetes. This makes integrating oral health into preventive health strategies essential for the success of future EU action on NCDs.
🚀 The Platform stands ready to work with Commissioner Várhelyi to ensure that oral health receives the attention it deserves within EU health priorities. This includes tackling cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes through oral health interventions, advancing oral cancer prevention, and promoting preventive-focused measures such as reducing sugar intake, implementing gender-neutral HPV vaccinations, and enhancing health literacy across the EU.
📢 Together, let’s make oral health a cornerstone of a healthier Europe!

#SmileYourWayToAHealthyLife #NoHealthWithoutOralHealth