site.btaFDI President Sharkov Urges UN to Prioritize Oral Health in Fight Against Non-Communicable Diseases

Dr. Nikolai Sharkov, President of the World Dental Federation (FDI), told the United Nations that oral health is key in combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs), his team said. Sharkov spoke at the 80th jubilee plenary session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Oral diseases are the most widespread NCDs globally, affecting more than 3.7 billion people. They have a profound impact on public health, well-being, and social equity. “It is time they are recognized as an integral part of global health policies,” Sharkov said in his address to delegates.

He recalled that oral diseases share common risk factors with other NCDs such as excessive sugar consumption, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption. These risks, he stressed, are shaped by policies in sectors such as trade, agriculture, education, and urban planning – areas outside of healthcare. For this reason, Sharkov argued, cross-sectoral action is essential to create healthier environments, regulate harmful products, and effectively tackle the root causes of both oral diseases and NCDs.

The FDI president called on UN member states to adopt the principle of “health in all policies”. This includes raising awareness of how activities across sectors affect population health, fostering intersectoral cooperation to address the drivers of oral and non-communicable diseases, and introducing regulatory and fiscal measures such as sugar taxes and tobacco control.

Sharkov also highlighted the role of oral health in transforming healthcare systems. Despite nearly half of the world’s population suffering from oral diseases, access to services remains limited. According to a 2025 WHO report, only 23% of people have access to basic oral care, as in many countries oral health is not covered by health insurance.