SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 5 October 2021 - Academic studies increasingly demonstrate the links between poor oral health and systemic disease, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and links with complications in pregnancy. But a new research from Ipsos, conducted in partnership with GSK Consumer Healthcare indicates these links are not yet widely known. The findings point to a worrying concern that people may not be proactively looking after their oral health as they should be, and therefore risk not experiencing the wider health benefits good oral health may bring.  

A new study by Ipsos and GSK Consumer Healthcare, with 4500 participants across 9 countries, including 500 participants from Singapore. Key findings from respondents in Singapore highlight low public awareness on the impact of good oral health to our overall health and the need to promote good oral health habits in Singapore.

• Low awareness of the importance of good oral health during pregnancy 

During pregnancy, higher hormone levels can change the way the body reacts to plaque build-up, causing swollen gums, an early sign of gum disease. Pregnant women with severe gum disease, also known as periodontitis, are more at risk of giving birth prematurely, suffer pre-eclampsia, or have a baby with low birth weight – meaning good oral health habits and seeking advice from healthcare professionals are critical¹.  

Yet, just 46% of respondents to the survey were aware that good oral healthcare can support a healthier pregnancy, with lower risk of complications. Similarly, the awareness of the risks of poor oral health for pregnancy among older respondents above 50, who will be grandparents and often advisors, was just as low at 45%. 

• Higher risk groups unaware of oral health links to diabetes  

Poor oral health can cause gum inflammation and infection. This can make it harder for the body to control blood sugar levels, and respond appropriately to insulin². In turn, high glucose levels in the saliva of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes sufferers can increase the risk of dental decay, and their high blood sugar levels mean general wounds, including those in the mouth, heal more slowly. 

While 52% of all respondents and 50% of respondents over 50 were aware that good oral health has a positive impact on helping to maintain blood sugar levels and manage diabetes, this number dropped to only 36% for respondents between the age 18-29.  A rising rates of diabetes including an estimated 14% Singaporeans aged 18-19 years being diagnosed with pre-diabetes³, suggests a need for targeted awareness raising and education among all age-groups.  

• Oral health links to cardiovascular disease better recognised 

Research shows that people with severe gum disease are at higher risk of heart   
disease. The bacteria that attack gums can spread throughout the body in  
the bloodstream and can cause inflammation⁴. 

55% of respondents were aware that good oral health habits can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. 

The study highlighted the significant role of regular dental visits in improving understanding of the relevance of oral health to overall health. Respondents who visited a dentist more frequently during the pandemic compared to before were more aware of the impact of oral health on all conditions surveyed.   

• 76% of respondents in South East Asia who visited the dentist more frequently compared to pre-Covid times were aware that good oral health can improve the chance of healthy pregnancy compared to 58% of respondents on average.  
• 77% of respondents in South East Asia who visited the dentist more frequently compared to pre-Covid times were aware that good oral health can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, compared to 65% of respondents on average.  
• 74% of respondents in South East Asia who visited the dentist more frequently compared to pre-Covid times were aware that good oral health can help to manage diabetes compared to 62% average of respondents on average.

Dr Lim Lii, Dentist, Dental On The Bay, said: "The association between oral health and overall health is well-documented by the scientific community. However, public awareness of the wider benefits of careful tooth-brushing, taking care of your oral cavity and regular dentist visits remains worryingly low. There is a real need to show consumers that it can be more than their smile put at risk if they don't take care of their mouths properly." 

Emerson Aguinaldo, General Manager, South East Asia and Taiwan,, GSK Consumer Healthcare, said: "Being healthy isn't all about broadcasting your runs or snapping photos at the gym – it can be the most mundane, behind-the-scenes habits that have the biggest impact. Good oral care habits like good, regular tooth-brushing using proven effective consumer healthcare products (toothpaste, mouth rinse and floss) are no exception. We need to show people the power of getting these habits right due to the many positive effects this can have on overall health, ultimately reducing the risk of developing a number of health conditions in the long term. 

As a leading global healthcare company, we work closely with frontline health workers, pharmacists, dentists and government organisations to empower consumers to take better care of their everyday health, and in doing so, relieving pressure on our health services." 

References:

¹ European Federation of Periodontology, https://www.efp.org/gum-disease-general-health/oral-health-pregnancy/overview/why-it-matters/

² Simpson T.C. et al. (2015) Treatment of periodontal disease for glycaemic control on people with diabetes mellitus. Cochrane Library, https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004714.pub3/full

³ MOH. Ministry of Health studying measures to better support persons with pre-diabetes. https://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/pressRoom/pressRoomItemRelease/2017/ministry-of-health-studying-measures-to-better-support-persons-w.html

⁴ Harvard Medical School - Health Publishing, https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/gum-disease-and-heart-disease-the-common-thread

About the survey

In total, 4,500 people were surveyed from five European countries and (France, Germany, Great Britain, Spain and Russia) and four South-East Asian countries (Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand). 500 people over the age of 18 years old were surveyed in each country. The survey was conducted online between 17th and 26th February 2021. The data was mapped proportionally against metadata – age, sex, region – in the total population. In addition, all participants whose data was taken into account agreed to an Adverse Event Tracker (forwarding to manufacturers in anonymised form any problems with products).

About GSK / GSK Consumer Healthcare:

GSK is a science-led global healthcare company. For further information please visit

Our world-leading Consumer Healthcare business combines trusted science and human understanding to create innovative everyday healthcare brands that consumers trust and experts recommend across oral health, pain relief, cold, flu and allergy, digestive health and vitamins, minerals and supplements.

Our portfolio of loved and trusted brands includes Sensodyne, parodontax, Polident, Advil, Voltaren, Panadol, Otrivin, Theraflu and Centrum.

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