Doctors, Public Health Experts and Dental Leaders Call for Oral Health to Become Part of Everyday Health Care

Moritz Kebschull, Past President of EFP and lead author

“Oral diseases, heart disease, diabetes and cancer share the same causes: sugar, tobacco, alcohol and disadvantage. It makes no sense to prevent them one at a time.”

Moritz Kebschull, Past President of EFP and lead author

“What sets this consensus apart is who wrote it: periodontists and public-health dentists together with cardiologists and family doctors. The evidence is clearest for diabetes, where treating gum disease helps patients control their blood sugar.”

Anton Sculean, EFP Secretary General and co-author

“Every doctor, nurse and pharmacist should be able to give the basic advice on brushing, cleaning between the teeth and regular dental visits, and dentists should look beyond the mouth, for example by spotting undiagnosed diabetes.”

Andreas Stavropoulos, EFP Treasurer and co-author

“Oral diseases cost an estimated 710 billion US dollars a year, and most of that burden is preventable. Bringing oral health into chronic-disease strategies, shared records and referral pathways is sound health policy and an efficient use of limited resources.”

Benjamin Binot, Global President, P&G Oral Care

“For too long, the mouth has been treated as separate from the rest of the body. This consensus says clearly that it is not.”

Benjamin Binot, Global President, P&G Oral Care

“Our role is to help turn that science into something people can act on every morning and every night. That means products that are proven to work, advice people can follow, and partnerships that bring oral health into the wider health conversation.”

Raman Bedi, President of the World Federation of Public Health Associations

“Oral diseases affect around 3.5 billion people and share the same drivers as heart disease, diabetes, tobacco, alcohol and unequal access to care. Yet oral health still sits outside most national NCD strategies. This consensus gives governments and health systems a clear mandate to change that. Integrating oral health into prevention is not a dental issue. It is a public health necessity.”

Gitana Rederiene, Dental public health researcher and dental hygienist

“This consensus is an important step towards bringing oral health into everyday healthcare. Dental hygienists and other oral-health professionals have a key role in prevention, early detection and guiding patients to the right care. By working more closely across professions, we can reduce inequalities and improve both oral and overall health.”

William Minston, Professional & Scientific Relations Director, P&G Oral Care

“This consensus gives health professionals a clear, evidence-based framework linking oral health with overall health.”

William Minston, Professional & Scientific Relations Director, P&G Oral Care

“It also underlines that how people clean their teeth matters, and that the technologies they choose should be backed by strong evidence.”