Non-communicable Diseases and Oral Health: An Overview

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, diabetes, cancer and diseases of the oral cavity such as caries or periodontitis represent a global and highly relevant problem due to demographic and epidemiological changes. They are not only responsible for millions of deaths worldwide, but also cause relevant costs for national economies arise for the health care of societies. Assuming that oral health and general health are directly linked, emerging interactions between systemic and oral diseases are increasingly being researched. Common important risk factors have implications for economic, social, and moral determinants of health. Interdisciplinarily trained oral health professionals are needed to address the excessively high rates of oral disease inequities. The main reason that oral disease is still a global health problem is the link to mainly individual subjective high-risk approaches, which is traditionally transmitted resulting in high costs and low effectiveness. A paradigm shift for a public health approach is proposed and needed for the population that integrates other health professionals who deal with NCDs and care for patients. Oral care, like physical activity, is one of the most important lifestyle-related determinants of health. Widespread recognition of these facts is critical to both reducing the impact of oral and non-oral NCDs. A multi-sectoral, comprehensive and integrated approach is therefore necessary. The focus should be on social, environmental and population strategies, but should also support individual strategies.