WHO NEWS

Oral diseases increasing in developing countries

Oral diseases such as tooth decay, gum disease and oral and pharyngeal cancers are still a problem in the developed world and have also become a threat to oral health in developing countries, says a new report released on 24 February 2004 by WHO's Global Oral Health Programme.

According to the report (http://www.who.int/oral_health/publications/report03/en/), an estimated five billion people worldwide have experienced tooth decay. While it appears to be less severe in most African countries, the report states that tooth decay is expected to increase in many developing countries in Africa as a result of the growing consumption of sugars and inadequate exposure to fluorides.