New study shows more needs to be done to raise public awareness on the impact of good oral health habits on overall health.

New study shows more needs to be done to raise public awareness on the impact of good oral health habits on overall health.

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, reveals the need to improve public awareness of the benefits of good oral health to our overall health.  

·         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 47% of respondents to the survey were aware that good oral healthcare can support a healthier pregnancy, with lower risk of complications. There was even lower awareness of the risks of poor oral health for pregnancy among older respondents who will be grandparents and often advisors. While 52% of those under 50 knew of the risks, the number fell to just 40% for people aged over 50.   

• 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 58% of respondents between the age 18-25 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 44% for respondents over 50. With the over 50s, being a higher-risk group, more likely to develop type 2 Diabetes, this suggests a need for targeted awareness raising and education.  

·         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 inflammation³. 56% 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.   
 

• 70% of respondents 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 47% of respondents on average.  
• 72% of respondents 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 56% of respondents on average.  
• 72% of respondents who visited the dentist more frequently compared to pre-Covid times were aware that good oral health can help to manage diabetes compared to 51% average of respondents on average.

Professor Nicola X West, Professor Restorative Dentistry (Periodontology) at Bristol Dental School, 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.”