In this special edition of our podcast, This week in global development, we explore the critical yet often overlooked issue of oral health with guests Anil Soni, CEO of the WHO Foundation, and Esha Gupta, head of public health and social impact at Colgate-Palmolive. Despite oral diseases affecting 3.7 billion people and being among the most common noncommunicable diseases, oral health has historically been siloed from systemic health discussions. This conversation highlights how oral health serves as a vital gateway to overall wellness — and makes the case for oral health as a key starting point for early health interventions.

Recorded during the World Economic Forum in Davos, the episode focuses on a landmark multiyear partnership between the WHO Foundation and Colgate-Palmolive to scale oral health education and policy globally. This collaboration aims to integrate oral care into primary health systems, particularly in countries with high disease burdens, by building on the legacy of the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures children’s oral health education program alongside the WHO’s normative guidance. By moving from a traditional aid model to a strategic investment approach, the partnership seeks to elevate oral health on the global public health agenda and advance healthier futures for all.

To hear more about this initiative and the case for investing in oral health, listen to this conversation with Anil Soni and Esha Gupta on the Devex podcast.