World Oral Health Day – a campaign by the FDI World Dental Federation – is on 20 March this year. The theme is 'a happy mouth is...a happy mind’ – a reminder of the importance of oral health and how it connects to our overall wellbeing, including mental health.
The FDI World Dental Federation states "oral diseases, the most widespread non-communicable diseases (NCDs), affect almost half of the world’s population over the course of life from early to old age".1
It is important to spread the word of how caring for your oral health means caring for your entire wellbeing.
Explore some of our research from across the BDJ Portfolio that looks at the impact oral health has on overall wellbeing, barriers to accessing oral healthcare, and how oral healthcare delivery can be improved.
British Dental Journal
A free-to-read systematic review on facilitators and barriers asylum seekers and refugees may have when trying to access oral healthcare.
A review exploring whether poor oral health has an impact on young children's development.
BDJ Open
A free-to-read review into oral health in an ageing population, exploring public policy and frameworks.
Evidence-Based Dentistry
To what extent is periodontal disease linked to systemic ill health? This Periodontal Disease and Systemic Health collection gathers and analyses the quality of the evidence.
A systematic review on nutrition and oral health-related quality of life in older adults.
BDJ Team
A feature exploring how the menopause can affect a person’s oral health and quality of life.
BDJ In Practice
A feature discussing whether integrated care boards can collaborate to meet common local oral health needs.
BDJ Student
“The mouth [tells] a vital story of one's health” – a piece discussing the relationship between oral and systemic health and The mouth as a mirror of the body.
More information on World Oral Health Day, including resources, can be found on the FDI World Dental Federation website here.
References
FDI World Dental Federation. Oral health and noncommunicable diseases. Available at https://fdiworlddental.org/oral-health-and-noncommunicable-diseases-ncds (accessed March 2025).