Expert Consensus on the Development of Public Oral Health Culture in China

Abstract

This expert consensus systematically reviews the current status and future directions of oral health culture in China, providing a clear theoretical framework for "oral health culture," including its conceptual definition, disciplinary perspective, and core values. It analyzes the current state and challenges of oral health culture. The consensus highlights that under the guidance of the "Healthy China" strategy, China's residents have experienced steady improvements in oral health literacy and access to healthcare services, yet still face challenges such as uneven regional development, an incomplete prevention and treatment system, and insufficient integration of oral health into daily cultural practices. Based on multidisciplinary expert discussions and the nominal group technique, the consensus proposes development goals, basic principles, implementation pathways, safeguard measures, and recommendations for oral health culture. First, establish a Chinese-style oral health culture system by integrating oral health culture into public health policies, primary healthcare services, and the national education system. Second, shift the focus from "treatment" to "prevention," strengthening whole-life-cycle oral health management, with particular attention to children, the elderly, and vulnerable groups. Third, leverage digital and new media technologies to innovate health communication formats, creating scientific, accessible, and positive oral health cultural products to foster a societal atmosphere of "caring for teeth." Fourth, incorporate oral health culture indicators into the evaluation systems for healthy cities and communities. The consensus emphasizes that the development of oral health culture is a crucial foundation for achieving universal oral health, requiring collaborative efforts from the government, professional institutions, media, schools, families, and the public.

Keywords: Oral health, Cultural education, Science popularization and education, Expert consensus, Nominal group technique