The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised an alarm over the deteriorating state of oral health in Africa. Despite the prevalence of preventable conditions, only 17 per cent of the continent's population can access basic dental services.
Marking World Oral Health Day 2026 under the theme "A Happy Mouth is a Happy Life," WHO Regional Director Mohamed Janabi revealed that oral diseases affected roughly 42 per cent of Africans in 2021. These conditions include dental caries, gum disease, and the devastating childhood disease, noma.
The report highlights a severe workforce shortage in Nigeria, where the oral health burden remains largely underfunded and underreported.
The Nigerian Reality:
Personnel Gap: Nigeria has fewer than 5,000 registered dentists for a population exceeding 200 million.
Disease Prevalence: Between 15% and 44% of Nigerians suffer from dental caries (tooth decay), with children being the most affected.
Prevention Barriers: High sugar consumption and limited access to fluoride remain the primary drivers of preventable dental issues.
While the statistics are grim, several African nations are making strides toward the WHO goal of universal oral health coverage by 2030:Malawi: Established its first Bachelor of Dental Surgery program and is now graduating locally trained dentists.
Tanzania: Successfully deployed dentists to all 184 district councils.
Ethiopia: Trained over 850 primary healthcare workers to detect early signs of noma.
"Oral diseases cause pain, disability, and avoidable suffering, while placing sustained pressure on families and health systems." — Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director
The WHO is currently supporting a transition toward more sustainable dental practices, including the phasing out of mercury-based dental amalgams. Governments are being urged to integrate oral health into primary healthcare to lower long-term costs and improve overall well-being.
