Oral Health Promotion

Health promotion is distinct from disease prevention and health education in both its aims and strategies. It is a comprehensive approach to enhancing the health of families and communities and populations that both complement and challenge the approach on which formal health care systems are based. From this perspective, health is both an individual and a social responsibility that is best secured by collaborative actions at all levels of society. Oral health is an integral part of general health and wellbeing. Good oral health enables individuals to communicate effectively, to eat and enjoy a variety of foods. It is also important in the overall quality of life, self-esteem and social confidence. It is well known that oral health problems are ubiquitous and therefore require a global concern. Oral diseases are highly prevalent and their impact on both society and the individual are significant: pain, disability and handicap due to oral diseases are quite common.