Oral health and noncommunicable diseases

Major oral diseases and noncommunicable diseases are closely linked and share common risk factors such as unhealthy diet, poor nutrition, use of tobacco and harmful consumption of alcohol. Intervention against oral diseases and noncommunicable diseases must therefore become integrated. In addition, oral health problems are more severe among people with diabetes, and HIV infected people often have oral lesions that affect their quality of life because of dry mouth, impaired and sugar-rich dietary habits, and poor nutrition. Prevention of oral cancer should be incorporated into national cancer programmes and include early detection and referral for specialist care.