Globally, every three minutes a baby is born with a cleft, that’s 540 babies every day. Babies born with a cleft often struggle to eat, breathe, hear, speak, and thrive. Every child has the right to good oral health, which is why FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) joined forces with Smile Train, to launch new educational resources, aimed at improving the quality of life for people born with clefts.
Cleft lip and palate (clefts) are the most common birth difference of the face and mouth and impact the development of the mouth, gums, and palate. Children with clefts are also uniquely susceptible to poor oral health and are commonly affected by missing, extra, or malformed teeth and facial structures. Even children who receive cleft surgery are at an increased risk for caries, periodontal disease, and other oral health and well-being challenges as they grow and develop.
