Every year on 1st October, the world celebrates the International Day of Older Persons. This year, the theme, "Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide", spotlights the growing need for comprehensive care frameworks that prioritize the well-being of ageing populations. When developing these frameworks, it is essential not to overlook oral health, as it plays a significant role in overall health.

For healthy ageing to become a reality, oral health must be integrated into national health systems and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) plans. Since its launch in 2015, FDI’s Oral Health for an Ageing Population (OHAP) project has been at the forefront of advocating for the integration of oral health into broader care and support systems for older adults. The OHAP project aims to ensure that people not only live longer but also healthier lives—free from the burden of oral diseases that often compromise quality of life.

The Importance of Oral Health in Healthy Ageing

Oral health is an integral part of maintaining overall health and dignity as we age. Untreated oral diseases can lead to pain, difficulty eating, and reduced quality of life, which in turn can exacerbate other health conditions. Yet, oral health challenges are often neglected in public health policies designed for ageing populations. The OHAP project works to change this by pushing for oral health to be included in global disease prevention strategies and national health promotion initiatives.

"Oral health is more than just teeth and gums. It directly impacts nutrition, communication, and the social lives of older adults," said Judith Jones, a member of the OHAP Task Team. "Healthy ageing is not just about living longer; it's about living well—and oral health plays a key role in that."

OHAP's Recent Initiatives for Older Adults

Over the past year, OHAP has taken significant strides in addressing the unique oral health challenges faced by older adults. In 2023, OHAP introduced a brochure featuring oral function exercises for older adults. These exercises are designed to be performed regularly to maintain oral health and prevent the decline in oral functions, such as chewing and speaking. The brochure is available in four languages—English, French, Spanish, and Japanese—allowing global accessibility to these vital resources.

Additionally, OHAP launched a Frailty Guide web app for dental professionals and their teams to assess the oral health of patients aged 65 and above. This tool uses a two-step pre-assessment to determine both the patient’s dependency level and their risk for oral frailty. Based on these results, the app provides tailored prevention advice, which can be downloaded or emailed as a PDF. The guide is designed to be accessible on multiple devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones, making it suitable for both in-person and online consultations.