10/23/2025
Oral health stood tall during the United Nations this September, as it was recognized within the discussions of the Fourth High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health. Its inclusion in the draft Political Declaration marks important progress after years of persistent advocacy (last inclusion was in 2011). Still, the Political Declaration was not approved by consensus and will now move to a vote for adoption at the full General Assembly, making continued advocacy even more critical.
IADR partnered with the FDI World Dental Federation to deliver joint statements during the HLM. With a verbal intervention in Panel 1, IADR and FDI urged governments to take bold multisectoral action to address the social and commercial determinants of oral diseases. The organizations called for fiscal measures such as health-promoting taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, to***co, and alcohol to reduce risk, raise revenue, and strengthen health systems. With a written intervention in Panel 2, IADR and FDI highlighted the importance of integrating oral health into essential benefit packages, aligning financing strategies with the WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan (2022β2030), and closing equity gaps in access to care. They also underscored the need for investment in oral health research, data systems, and workforce innovation to support cost-effective, integrated care models.
With oral diseases affecting 3.7 billion people worldwide, even modest recognition of oral health in the UN Political Declaration represents progress. However, with the declaration moving to a formal vote, IADRβs advocacy continues. Together with partners, IADR remains committed to ensuring that oral health is not sidelined but firmly embedded in the global NCD and mental health agenda - because there is indeed no health without oral health.
Use the link to watch: πhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxDwijnOCz0