New ways of thinking for sustainable oral health: how integrating oral, respiratory, and postural health into early childhood development can drive innovation and research

Abstract

This Perspective presents an emerging integrative model for early childhood health promotion, developed within For the Health of Future Generations (HFG) initiative. The model translates evolving definitions of oral health into culturally adaptive, school-based interventions that integrate oral, respiratory, postural, and musculoskeletal health within early learning systems. Rooted in transdisciplinary collaboration, the HFG protocol promotes upstream prevention through functional health routines, health literacy, and early observation. Preliminary field experience from the ongoing four-year, multi-country pilot program in diverse early learning settings revealed concerning patterns in children's functional health and behavioral readiness for school, as perceived by educators and caregivers. Interviews suggest increasing challenges in school transition and a lack of physiological maturity among children. These findings underscore the need for integrative, developmentally supportive strategies in early education. By embedding health-enabling practices into early learning environments, the HFG model offers a pathway toward more equitable, sustainable child development frameworks aligned with WHO priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 4, 11, and 13.