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Glossary: terms defined only by quoting their source

What do the treatment words mean? Find definitions from named sources, with their wording and limits.

Every term below is defined by quoting a named institution, in the language of this page, word for word. Nothing here is written in our own voice, because a definition in our own voice would be our claim rather than a record of someone else's. Where no such wording could be found, the term is left out. The source and the day we read it are listed at the foot of the page. A closing section below quotes the same source on causes, prevention and access, and defines nothing.

Dental caries — tooth decay

According to the World Health Organization: "Dental caries results when plaque forms on the surface of a tooth and converts the free sugars (all sugars added to foods by the manufacturer, cook or consumer, plus sugars naturally present in honey, syrups and fruit juices) contained in foods and drinks into acids that destroy the tooth over time."

Periodontal disease — gum disease

According to the World Health Organization: "Periodontal disease affects the tissues that both surround and support the teeth. The disease is characterized by bleeding or swollen gums (gingivitis), pain and sometimes bad breath."

Edentulism — total tooth loss

According to the World Health Organization: "Losing teeth is generally the end point of a lifelong history of oral disease, mainly advanced dental caries and severe periodontal disease, but can also be due to trauma and other causes."

Oral cancer

According to the World Health Organization: "Oral cancer includes cancers of the lip, other parts of the mouth and the oropharynx".

Oro-dental trauma

According to the World Health Organization: "Oro-dental trauma results from injury to the teeth, mouth and oral cavity."

Noma

According to the World Health Organization: "Noma is a severe gangrenous disease of the mouth and the face."

Cleft lip and palate

According to the World Health Organization, orofacial clefts are "the most common of craniofacial birth defects".

Not definitions — the same document on causes, prevention and access

According to the World Health Organization: "Most oral health conditions are largely preventable and can be treated in their early stages."

According to the World Health Organization: "Most oral diseases and conditions share modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption and an unhealthy diet high in free sugars".

According to the World Health Organization: "Adequate exposure to fluoride is an essential factor in the prevention of dental caries."

According to the World Health Organization: "Oral diseases disproportionately affect the poor and socially disadvantaged members of society."

According to the World Health Organization: "Unequal distribution of oral health professionals and a lack of appropriate health facilities to meet population needs in most countries means that access to primary oral health services is often low."

Sources used on this page

From our evidence audits, as compiled into this source record on 10 September 2026: the entries that name a file or document we can point to, each of them material a passage on this page rests on. Entries an audit could not tie to a sentence on this page, or recorded only as internal shorthand, are not listed.

Institutional