Leading international health experts 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.

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

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.

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.

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.   

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.