Oral health and noncommunicable diseases
Adopting a common risk factor approach
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, are one of the major challenges for health and sustainable human development. To date, the global NCD response has focused on the four major NCDs – cardiovascular (heart) disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases. However, there is a range of other conditions, including oral diseases, that are linked to the four most prominent NCDs. In fact, oral diseases are among the most common and preventable NCDs worldwide, and they are generally related to the same risk factors associated with over 100 NCDs.
Oral diseases and other NCDs share modifiable risk factors, including tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy diets, as well as the same socioeconomic determinants. Accordingly, it is essential to adopt a common risk factor approach and fully integrate oral health into NCD prevention and control and broader health strategies. With the growing burden of oral disease and NCDs worldwide, there is an urgent need for local, national, regional, and global action.
UN Political Declaration on NCD
Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases.
UN Political Declaration on NCDs
Though not an area of major focus historically, oral health and NCDs have garnered renewed attention and increased political momentum in recent years. The turning point for the oral health and NCD community was in 2011 with the adoption of the United Nations (UN) Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of NCDs. For the first time, NCDs were recognized as a global health priority and oral diseases were specifically referenced as a major health burden. The Declaration was also a step forward in recognizing that oral health and NCDs do not exist in isolation from one another and can benefit from a comprehensive and integrated response.
To accelerate action on oral health and NCDs, FDI works closely with our members and network of established partners. We prioritize collaboration with other health areas, especially NCDs. For this reason, FDI collaborates with the NCD Alliance – one of our strategic partners – so that together we can accomplish common goals by tackling cross-cutting issues (such as co-morbidities and common risk factors) to improve oral health and reduce the NCD burden.
No Health without Oral Health
The fourth UN HLM on NCDs (HLM4) will take place on Thursday, 25 September 2025 in New York with the theme “Equity and Integration: Transforming lives and livelihoods through leadership and action on NCDs and mental health”. At this meeting, Heads of States and governments will assess the progress made since HLM3 in 2018. HLM4 will also set a vision to prevent and control NCDs towards 2030 and 2050 through a political declaration that will be negotiated by governments.
HLM4 presents a unique opportunity for governments to adopt a bold, action-oriented, and achievable agenda on NCDs, including oral health.
FDI is mobilizing all stakeholders with interest in oral health ahead of HLM4 through coherent and aligned recommendations for governments. It has collaborated with the International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (IADR), to develop advocacy priorities specific to oral health.
