The World Health Organization's Global School Health Initiative is designed to improve the health of schoolchildren worldwide. The WHO notes that schools help build the foundation for good oral health throughout the world for the following reasons:
- School students can be assessed during their formative years, from childhood to adolescence. These are important stages in people's lives, when lifelong oral health-related behavior, as well as beliefs and attitudes, are being developed.
- The burden of oral disease in children is significant. Most established oral diseases are irreversible, will last a lifetime, and have impact on quality of life in general health.
- School policies and health-education programs can help control risk behaviors such as intake of sugary foods and drinks, tobacco use and alcohol consumption.
- Schools can provide a platform for the provision of oral health care (for example, providing preventive and curative services).
The WHO says a young person with high self-esteem and good social skills who is clear about his or her values and has access to relevant information is more likely to make positive decisions about health. Programs aimed at improving the oral health of youth must identify who or what influence young people (parents and family, mass media, friends, etc.), and build on that information when developing programs related to consumption of sweets, sugary beverages, tobacco and alcohol. Effective alliances of the home, schools, oral health professionals and community organizations are needed in order to control risks to oral health and young people, said the WHO.
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