Oral health inequalities and disability: Closing the gap

Abstract

The social determinants of health impact disproportionately on disabled people creating a cumulative risk of unequal oral health outcomes, compounded by impairment.Problems in early life, education and employment, poor social status and support, social exclusion, poverty and stress characterize the life course of many disabled people. Ableism and exclusion combine to ensure that disabled voices are rarely heard, ignorance and indifference lead to prejudice in policy-making and enforcement and negative media attitudes fuelled by political austerity lead to stigmatization. Yet, the health disparities experienced by disabled people are still perceived as being uniquely caused by a medical condition or impaired body function, excluding disabled people from the inequalities discourse. In parallel, the influence of medical conditions within other marginalized groups are minimized (e.g. mental health), leading to the underestimation of the impact of disability on oral health generally. The common ground between all groups subject to oral health inequalities can be conceptualized using the WHO International Classification of Functioning. Outcomes for all might be improved by emphasizing this common ground; by considering disability as a primary variable, such as gender or age; by identifying disabled people within existing inequalities research; and by explicitly including disabled people in future research.

The Importance of Toothbrushing and Oral Hygiene in Maintaining Oral Health

“…It plays a crucial role in a person's ability to eat, breathe, and speak and encompasses psychosocial dimensions such as selfconfidence, general well-being, and the ability to socialize and work without experiencing pain, discomfort, embarrassment, or difficulty interacting with others [21][22][23]. Oral diseases are often concentrated among socially disadvantaged groups with limited access to healthcare services, leading to persistent socio-economic inequalities [19,[24][25][26]. In 2021, during the 74th World Health Assembly, a resolution on oral health was adopted, recommending a shift from the traditional curative approach to a preventive promotion approach.…”