New research released today by GSK Consumer Healthcare and IPSOS reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a tangible impact on people’s oral healthcare habits. 4,500 participants aged over 18 years old were surveyed online from five European countries (France, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, and Russia) and four South-East Asian (SEA) countries (Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand). Key findings for Singapore’s consumers from the research are below:
Consumers in Singapore are aware of the importance of oral health and its wider impact on overall health and mental health. However, are not doing enough to maintain and improve their oral health.
- 89 per cent and 85 per cent of consumers in Singapore claim to believe that good oral healthcare can benefit their overall health and have a positive impact on mental health and well-being respectively.
- Consumers in Singapore who currently suffer from at least one oral care condition are not doing enough to maintain or improve their oral health. Only 19 per cent regularly visit the dentist for checkups or cleaning.
COVID-19 pandemic and circuit breaker measures led to behavioural change amongst Singapore’s consumers that could worsen overall oral health.
- In the pandemic, many consumers in Singapore have increased their consumption of snacks, coffee or tea, frozen treats, packaged fruit juice, and soft drinks despite a good majority report suffering from at least one oral health issue.
- The top three oral health conditions currently experienced by Singaporeans are: sensitive teeth, stained or yellow teeth, and plaque.
- Despite these factors, only 14 per cent of Singapore’s consumers claimed to have brushed their teeth more frequently during the pandemic.
One in three of Singapore’s consumers have reduced their visits to the dentist
- 36 per cent of consumers in Singapore have reduced their frequency or stopped visiting the dentist over the pandemic.
- Nearly half of all Singapore consumers reported being worried or somewhat worried about visiting a dentist in person due to the pandemic with COVID-19 being cited as one of the reasons.
Almost all of Singapore’s consumers are aware that poor oral health leads to other physical and mental health issues, but are not doing nearly enough to ensure good oral health
About nine-in-ten Singapore consumers (89 per cent) claim to believe that good oral healthcare can benefit overall health. 55 per cent believe that good oral healthcare can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, 85 per cent believe that good oral healthcare can have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing, and 52 per cent believe that good oral healthcare can have a positive impact on controlling blood sugar levels or managing diabetes.
However, while Singapore consumers are mostly aware of the knock-on effects that could stem from poor oral healthcare, the survey suggests that these consumers are not doing nearly enough to manage their oral health, and hence could put their overall physical and mental health in unnecessary jeopardy.
Among those who currently suffer from at least one oral care condition, only 23 per cent of Singapore’s consumers indicated that they use specialised oral care products, and only 19 per cent reported visiting their dental professionals regularly for routine checkups or cleaning to actively manage their oral health condition.
This is despite the fact that 56 per cent of all Singapore consumers claim that they suffer from sensitive teeth issues, with 44 per cent citing pain and discomfort in their teeth when eating or drinking in general. These survey findings hint at a lackadaisical attitude among Singapore’s consumers in managing their overall oral health, even as many of them are already suffering from at least one oral
health issue.
Continued disregard in managing personal oral health over the long run could predispose consumers to physical and mental health conditions – a risk that these consumers seem to be needlessly choosing to bear.
Shift in consumer behaviour over the pandemic increased consumer susceptibility to worsened overall oral health
The global pandemic has led to a lifestyle change for consumers in Singapore – circuit breaker measures saw them spend more time at home, especially with work-from home measures being enforced. As a result, the survey observes a change in consumer habits and routines that may have
impacted their overall oral health.
Over the pandemic, 26 per cent of Singapore’s consumers claimed to have increased their consumption of snacks, 23 per cent in coffee or tea, 15 per cent in frozen treats, 9 per cent in packaged fruit juice, and 8 per cent in soft drinks. Increased consumption of these types of food and beverage has a pronounced effect on oral health, especially in the accelerated wear on tooth enamel that cannot be restored naturally by the body.
As it stands, consumers in Singapore are already suffering from oral health conditions that can be worsen by the consumption of such foods and beverages; 56 per cent indicated that they suffer from sensitive teeth, 36 per cent indicated having stained/yellow teeth, and 20 per cent indicated having plaque – these were the top three oral health conditions that Singapore’s consumers suffer from.
When polled on how they actively manage their oral health conditions, the most turned to solution – with 38 per cent of them indicating so – was to brush their teeth regularly. This highlights the lack of specific, more targeted strategies to managing their oral health. Further on, only 13 per cent of Singapore’s consumers visit the dentist regularly for checkups.
Keith Choy, Region Head, Asia Pacific, GSK Consumer Healthcare, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on a distinct change in the way we go about our day-to-day lives, and the way we care for ourselves. It is encouraging to see that there is widespread awareness among consumers here around the drawn-out impacts of poor oral health. However, more needs to be done. Good oral healthcare practices are critical to a holistic self-care routine and overall health in the long run.”
“As experts in specialist oral health, GSK Consumer Healthcare is poised to help consumers manage and enhance their overall oral healthcare routines through our combined unique understanding of consumer needs with scientific innovation. We look forward to journeying with consumers in Singapore towards better oral and self-care,” he added.
COVID-19 caused hesitance among Singapore consumers in visiting their dentists in person
Due to lockdown restrictions and aims to reduce COVID-19 transmission, 36 per cent of consumers in Singapore have reduced their frequency or stopped visiting the dentist. Among respondents who claim to be worried or somewhat worried to visit the dentist is person, 30 per cent of them fear that there could be many people in the dental clinic that would make it difficult for them to socially distance themselves from others; 27 per cent think that there is a high chance of contracting COVID-19 from dental equipment; 31 per cent indicated being unsure of whether dental clinics are sanitised and cleaned thoroughly.
While fears around contracting the COVID-19 virus are not unfounded, consumers in Singapore are also doing little else to ensure they maintain their overall oral health. Only 14 per cent of them claim to brush their teeth more frequently over the pandemic – despite increased intake of foods and beverages that could impact their overall oral health – a large majority of them (85 per cent) reported sticking to the same frequency in brushing their teeth over the pandemic. Further on, only 17 per cent of them indicated having increased use of mouthwash over the pandemic.
“Consumers need to be mindful that a holistic approach to oral care is key to maintaining good oral health. The decreased frequency in visits to the dentist for routine check-ups, coupled with largely unchanged oral care routines over the pandemic puts consumers in Singapore at risk of worsening their overall oral health, which could lead to the onset of knock-on effects to their overall health in the long-term, adopting good practices such as avoiding sugary and acidic food or drink, using specialised products, and regular visits to the dentist are all equally crucial to maintaining good overall oral health,” Dr Egbert Dorado, Medical Affairs Director, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare said.