President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) stated Monday, September 14, that oral health is the key to overall wellness and aging with dignity while promoting the government’s  Long-Term Care Plan 3.0. During a meeting with Taiwan Dental Association representatives in the Presidential office, Lai said the initiative looks to tackle oral health decline, collaborating with Taiwan’s dentists to ensure that seniors as old as 80 have at least 20 natural teeth to live confidently.

Lai called oral health fundamental to good overall health – pointing out the effects it has on nutrition, appetite, and chronic disease management, but also a person’s ability to speak well, eat with peace of mind, and smile confidently. For seniors, he said, it is especially crucial for healthy and dignified aging. These reasons, he said, are exactly why the government prioritizes oral healthcare in its healthy Taiwan policy. 

The president called out the Taiwanese Dental Association as an important partner in promoting dental health policy. Since 2023, the group has been entrusted by the Health Ministry with administering special board certifications, establishing certification regulations, and promoting pilot program assessments to stabilize Taiwan’s specialized dental care system.

President Lai restated that the goal of Healthy Taiwan is to increase overall life expectancy to 82 years, while simultaneously decreasing the number of unhealthy years. This involves building a comprehensive care network tackling multiple aspects of health, from disease prevention, long-term care, and support for aging with dignity.

Prevention of oral health issues is a key issue of the Long-Term Care Plan 3.0. The Health Ministry is working hard to improve Taiwan’s overall capacity, such as improving specialist training and strengthening teaching and research capabilities. Another step is improving public education on oral disease and collaborative medical and dental care. In July, the standards for establishing dental care facilities were revised, and a subsidy program was announced for providing dental care to remote areas.

The president said that the government would continue to support the health industry and ensure policies met the needs of the medical field and the public, to improve oral health care across Taiwan.