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The right to health12 13—which includes oral health—is defined broadly by the UN and others, and requires comprehensive population level measures.14 15 16 It goes beyond universal health coverage and includes “facilities, goods, services and conditions necessary for the realization of the highest attainable standard of health.”16 It additionally covers “a right [for children] to grow and develop to their full potential and live in conditions that enable them to attain the highest standard of health through the implementation of programmes that address the underlying determinants of health.”14 An approach to oral health based on children’s rights tackles the root causes of oral disease with preventive policies such as those targeting the availability and accessibility of dietary sugars and oral hygiene.15 It also emphasises a life course approach, including the importance of (preventive) measures targeting children,14 given the intergenerational and intragenerational effects of poor oral health in childhood.10 11 Finally, in response to the universal social gradient in oral diseases, with disadvantaged groups being affected disproportionately,6 a focus on child rights offers a framework to inform the development and implementation of more equitable policies.14

and intragenerational effects of poor oral health in childhood.10 11 Finally, in response to the universal social gradient in oral diseases, with disadvantaged groups being affected disproportionately,6 a focus on child rights offers a framework to inform the development and implementation of more equitable policies.14 WHO’s recognition of the right to oral health is a welcome first step towards better oral health for all children globally. But a rights based approach to implementing the WHO strategy in national settings9 would provide important additional benefits for all relevant actors—including policy makers, clinicians, and patients—and should be prioritised. A rights based framework would help target limited health budgets more efficiently, as studies suggest that preventive population level policies are associated with substantial cost savings for health systems, including the NHS.17 It would also benefit clinicians by reducing the treatment burden on overstretched healthcare services such as emergency departments.17 18

d health budgets more efficiently, as studies suggest that preventive population level policies are associated with substantial cost savings for health systems, including the NHS.17 It would also benefit clinicians by reducing the treatment burden on overstretched healthcare services such as emergency departments.17 18 Policies that uphold every child’s right to oral health benefit patients directly but also have a broader societal impact. Children’s oral health can be a “canary in the coalmine,”6 since poor oral health is a precursor for other systemic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease,4 given their shared risk factors and intergenerational effects10 11 Better oral health is associated with better general health during childhood and in later life. Moreover, as poor oral health in childhood is associated with missed school days and poorer educational outcomes,2 19 effective policy making in this area can help reduce educational inequality. Finally, a rights based approach to reform of oral health systems would contribute to the fulfilment of other related rights such as the rights to (general) health, education, and rights related to children’s development and wellbeing throughout the lifespan. This approach should underpin all national and international efforts to improve the oral health of children.