Smile Train Joins FDI World Dental Federation to Amplify the Importance of Good Oral Health

New York, NY (20 March, 2024) – Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused organisation, teams up with FDI World Dental Federation to promote a powerful message: A Happy Mouth is a Happy Body. Today, in celebration of World Oral Health Day (WOHD), FDI World Dental Federation is debuting an impactful video message uniting voices from diverse sectors, including Smile Train and their longstanding corporate partners, Dentsply Sirona and Haleon. Participants are advocating for collective efforts to improve oral health worldwide.

“As Smile Train celebrates our 25th anniversary this year, the organisation continues to empower people with knowledge, tools, and confidence to take ownership of their oral health,” said Dr. Monica Dominguez, Smile Train’s Director of Global Oral Health Programs. “People with clefts are at a higher risk of developing oral diseases. Oral diseases can have long-term effects on children’s overall health and quality of life and yet, most oral diseases are largely preventable and can be treated at an early stage. Smile Train offers global education and training resources to support oral health, because everyone has a role to play in ensuring good oral health for cleft affected patients.”

“We say that a happy mouth is essential for a happy body because the two are intricately connected and mutually influence each other. Understanding this connection is vital to improving the quality of life for countless people all around the world,” explains FDI President Dr. Greg Chadwick.

This message resonates with leaders from governments, organisations representing other chronic health conditions, and the private sector, who have united to lend their voice to a new video released today. The collaborative initiative underscores the urgent need for collective action to ensure universal access to oral health, which is crucial for securing the overall health and well-being of people worldwide.”

Good oral health is critical to breathing, eating, speaking, and smiling. When oral disease is left untreated, it can severely impact a person’s health and social prospects. Moreover, maintaining good oral health may contribute to preventing other conditions such as heart and respiratory diseases, cancer, and diabetes. People born with a cleft lip or cleft palate are more prone to developing oral diseases.

Oral diseases currently rank as the most prevalent health conditions globally, affecting nearly 3.5 billion people, including those suffering from tooth decay, severe gum disease, tooth loss, and oral cancer, according to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Raising awareness through WOHD about the importance of avoiding risk factors such as foods high in sugar, regular brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, and dental check-ups, is crucial to empowering people with good oral health habits. However, with the burden of oral diseases remaining unacceptably high, “It's clear that no single entity can effectively tackle oral health issues alone,” emphasises Dr. Anna Lella, WOHD Working Group Chair. “This is why FDI has made it its mission to catalyse partnerships, networks, policies, and programmes to advance oral health as an essential component of overall health and well-being.”

This collaborative effort also includes NCD Alliance, World Heart Federation, International Diabetes Federation, the International Pharmaceutical Federation, and 3M, among others. "Effective collaboration across sectors and stakeholders is imperative to achieve universal coverage for oral health. Together, we must tirelessly work to eliminate disparities so that by 2030, oral health becomes a universally accessible right," stresses Dr. Chadwick.

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About Smile Train: Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children’s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train's sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrain.org.uk.

About World Oral Health Day: Celebrated annually on 20 March, World Oral Health Day (WOHD) was launched by FDI World Dental Federation to raise global awareness on the prevention and control of oral diseases. www.worldoralhealthday.org; #WOHD24 #HappyMouth @Toothiebeaver

Media Contact: Nicole Bell | Public Relations
nbell@smiletrain.org | +1 (646) 829-0996