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

JAKARTA, INDONESIA AND 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 Indonesia. Key findings from respondents in Indonesia 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 Indonesia.

• 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 54% 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 approximately
55% of those under 50 knew of the risks, the number
fell to  50% 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 18-29 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 49% 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. 

68% 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.

drg. Hari Sunarto, Sp.Perio(K), President of Indonesian
Periodontology Association mengatakan 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.”