About OHP

Department of Global Oral Health
College of Dental Sciences
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre

Department of Global
Oral Health

About Oral Health promotion

In the late 1980s the concept of oral health promotion emerged. Various definitions of health promotion have since been formulated. According to the Ottawa Charter, "(oral) health promotion (OHP) is any process that enables individuals or communities to increase control over the determinants of their (oral) health". An essential element in health promotion is recognition of social, political and environmental factors in relation to (oral) health. It implies that promotion of (oral) health should include the creation of healthy public policies and supportive environments, development of personal skills and reorientation of the health services

OHP and BPOC
In order to facilitate successful introduction of BPOC components and further oral health planning strategies, communities should combine the introduction with oral health promotion.
Promotion activities should encourage behaviour that is conducive to good oral health from a very young age (e.g. tooth brushing, healthy diet, hygiene, regular visits to dental clinics).