16 March 2023
It is increasingly well understood that oral and general health are closely intertwined.
Now the FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) is bolstering this understanding with its new Whole Body Health platform which highlights the latest findings on the bidirectional relationship of oral-systemic health.
Noting the disturbing prevalence of oral diseases worldwide, with nearly 3.5 billion people suffering from oral health conditions, FDI observes that "Good oral health is not only about having a healthy smile; it can also impact your overall health, well-being and quality of life."
It goes on to note that in many health settings, oral health is divorced or isolated from wider general health systems, effectively "separating the mouth from the body and underestimating the importance of oral health for general health."
The Whole Body Health platform is, in part, a response to this situation, designed to assist oral health professionals and the wider healthcare community to access the latest research linking oral health with overall health and to further explore the nature of these relationships.
The research supplied through the platform is presented in support of FDI's Vision 2030, which aims to lead to more "effective prevention and management of oral diseases" and to increased collaboration across health disciplines with a view to improving the health and well-being of people overall.
