Global health experts unveil four-point plan to combat oral diseases through tobacco harm reduction

LONDON, 4 December 2024 – Leading international health experts today unveiled a pioneering four-point plan to address the global crisis of oral diseases, which afflict more than 3.5 billion people worldwide.

Their landmark report, launched at a conference of highly regarded health professionals in London, provides a bold vision for reducing tobacco-related oral diseases by promoting safer alternatives and integrating tobacco harm reduction (THR) strategies into public health frameworks.

Dr. Delon Human, a global health advocate and one of the authors of the report, said: “Oral health is a critical aspect of overall well-being, yet millions of people continue to suffer from diseases that are entirely preventable. 

“By embracing tobacco harm reduction and empowering healthcare professionals, we can offer a safer and more effective path for people who smoke to protect their oral hygiene and overall health.”

The report, Transforming Oral Health for All: The Case of Tobacco Harm Reduction, sets out four strategic objectives.

1. Encouraging risk-proportionate regulation:

Governments should revise regulations and tax policies to increase access to safer, smoke-free nicotine alternatives while restricting combustible tobacco products, encouraging people who smoke to switch and reducing the global burden of tobacco-related oral diseases.

2. Activating oral health professionals:  

Oral health professionals, especially dentists and hygienists, are crucial in educating patients about tobacco harm reduction. Providing them with proper training enables them to guide patients away from smoking-related oral diseases.

3. Strengthening alliances and consumer representation:

The report advocates for forming science-based consumer groups and collaborations among healthcare providers, NGOs and the private sector to amplify voices affected by tobacco-related diseases and support evidence-based policy reforms.

4. Investment in research and local science:

The report urges increased investment in research to understand tobacco harm reduction’s impact on oral health, advancing knowledge on safer smoke-free nicotine products while protecting youth from tobacco use.

Report co-author Dr. Amaliya Amaliya, a professor of dentistry at the University of Amsterdam, was lead speaker at the launch. She said: “With oral diseases impacting billions of people and smoking-related diseases causing millions of premature deaths each year, the need for bold action has never been clearer. 

“The integration of tobacco harm reduction into public health strategies could drastically reduce the incidence of smoking-related oral diseases, improving the overall quality of life for millions of people globally.”

The report includes case studies of countries, such as Sweden, the UK, Japan and New Zealand, where the adoption of THR is dramatically reducing smoking rates and improving public health.

Dr. Human, leader of Smoke Free Sweden, concluded: “Real-world evidence shows that we have the power to change the course of global oral health. This report and its four-point plan are a blueprint for a healthier, smoke-free future for all.”