Podcast of the Month – Oral Health Matters
Oral health is often overlooked in global conversations about public health, yet it plays a vital role in our overall wellbeing and quality of life. This month, we’re highlighting Oral Health Matters as our Podcast of the Month for March – a series that places oral health firmly at the centre of discussions about equity, policy, and global health systems.
Hosted by Professor Richard Watt, Professor of Dental Public Health at University College London, Oral Health Matters brings together researchers, policymakers, and activists from across the world. Through thoughtful, accessible conversations, the podcast explores the causes and consequences of oral disease and, crucially, the evidence-based solutions needed to improve oral health outcomes for all.
The first half of Series 1 focused on why oral health must be recognised as a global public health priority. Early episodes feature voices from Colombia, Singapore, Kenya, and India, examining the political, social, and economic factors that shape oral health outcomes in different contexts. These conversations highlight persistent global inequalities and the barriers faced by researchers and practitioners working in the global south. A strong emphasis is placed on the importance of engaging directly with communities – particularly those who are marginalised or disadvantaged, to ensure that policies and interventions are meaningful, inclusive, and sustainable.
Later episodes in Series 1 turn towards the future of oral health research and policy. Contributors from Australia, the UK, Ireland, and the World Health Organisation reflect on how to support the next generation of oral health researchers, the growing influence of commercial and structural determinants of health, and the evolving national and global policy landscape. Across the series, a consistent message emerges improving oral health is not simply a clinical challenge, but a deeply social, political, and economic one that requires collaboration across sectors and disciplines.
That message continues – and deepens – in Series 2, which builds on the foundations of the first series while engaging directly with current global debates. Upcoming episodes explore oral health as a fundamental human right, situating it within broader discussions of equity and universal health coverage. The series also examines the implications of the Bangkok Declaration, considers whether dentistry is at a precipice amid workforce pressures and systemic change, and asks what a truly pro-equity policy agenda for oral health might look like in practice.
Together, these themes underline why Oral Health Matters has been selected as Podcast of the Month. Series 2 offers a combination of academic rigour, global perspective, and real-world relevance, making it essential listening for policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and anyone interested in health justice.
Produced by the Dental Public Health Group at UCL, with funding from the National Institute for Health and Care, Oral Health Matters is a timely and thought-provoking podcast that challenges us to rethink how oral health is valued – and why it truly matters.
Listen to the latest episode, and catch-up on series 1, now:
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Lauren White, Assistant Producer
