Proclaim’s New Study Reveals Critical Link Between Oral Health and Systemic Well-Being, and the Need For Improved At-Home Healthy Habits

Proclaim’s 2024 “Oral Health Insights Report” was released today and it reveals crucial data pertaining to the oral health habits of American adults and what they do and do not know about its far-reaching implications on systemic health as well as their worries over unforeseen medical costs.

The comprehensive report from Proclaim, a company known for pioneering preventative health breakthroughs, underscores the urgent need for more education and a stronger preventative approach in healthcare to mitigate future financial and health crises down the line.

Robert Eber, DDS, MS, warns in a press release announcing the release of the study, “Sadly, many people aren’t aware that poor oral health can cause inflammation that allows untreated bacteria in the mouth to enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body. Research shows correlation between this bacteria and serious, debilitating systemic diseases and chronic illnesses impacting the heart, brain, and digestive system. A direct causal relationship has not yet been established, but it makes sense to eliminate bacterial induced inflammation anywhere in the body, starting with the mouth, the gateway to the rest of the body”

Lack of Awareness is Costly
Overall, an alarming number of people say their primary care physician does not talk to them about oral health (61%) nor preventative health (32%) on a regular basis, according to the new report. Consequently, many surveyed were not aware of the connection between poor oral health and heart disease (50%) and cognitive disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s (77%).

Dental professionals have long been aware of the oral-systemic link, but Proclaim’s findings indicate more overall awareness is needed.

“This lack of communication and education between healthcare providers and patients creates a huge knowledge gap that can lead to serious repercussions, potentially resulting in a large number of the population being diagnosed with preventable diseases,” Heberto Calves, Proclaim CEO, adds in the press release. “Right now, our healthcare system focuses so much effort on reactive treatment to medical issues rather than preventing them in the first place, and something has to change.”

Good Oral Habits Can Have an Impact
Without a strong preventative lens on healthcare in America, how are adults in this country to deal with hardships down the road? Well, according to the study, many are worried about just that—74% agree/strongly agree that an unexpected health problem could wipe out their savings, while 61% say they worry about these unforeseen health issues on a regular basis because of the financial implications.

Maybe more patients just need to heed the advice given to them by clinicians and hygienists.

“Getting to the root cause of these problems by eliminating harmful bacteria at the entry point of the body, the mouth, is one way adults can take more preventative control of their health and wellness outcomes. But, even with nearly half of adults over 30 struggling with some form of gum disease, getting people to floss daily—and to do it effectively—is still a struggle,” Dr Eber admits.

The “Proclaim Oral Health Insights Report” indicates there’s a significant gap between people’s beliefs about their flossing habits and their actual practices. While 88% say flossing is important [this is somewhat good news], only 43% floss every day [not so good news]. Some respondents (7%) admit they never floss, or they only do so when they have something stuck in their teeth (10%).

Nearly a quarter (24%) of respondents even admit to lying to their dentist about how often they floss, with men being 5% more likely to do so. The primary reason for this, according to the report, is embarrassment (52%). It turns out, 41% also lie to avoid receiving a lecture from the oral health provider, Proclaim says.

Dental professionals know how important flossing is, but they also know too many people still find the task too much of a hassle to perform as often as they should

According to the study, common reasons for skipping flossing include: not enough time or too busy (27%), too much effort or lack of motivation (25%), and painful or bleeding gums (17%). Alarmingly, 11% believe flossing altogether just isn’t important.

Knowing all this, Dr Eber urges, “There’s a good reason your dentist is hard-pressed to get you to commit to flossing. It’s a daily habit that, when not maintained, can have negative, irreversible impacts on the health of your mouth and potentially your overall health.”

What Can Be Done to Help?
Finding a solution that gets everyone on board with regular, healthy oral habits is not easy. The “Proclaim Oral Health Insights Report” shows that forming sustainable healthy habits at home can be challenging. In fact, 73% of people agree that even habits that are good for them can be hard to maintain, and 53% agree they find it hard to build new habits.

That said, most respondents (81%) also say that starting off their day with a quick habit, whether brushing their teeth or making their bed, makes them feel more productive the rest of the day.

Not surprisingly, most respondents (68%) agree that habits that take less than 10 seconds a day are more attainable than ones that take longer. Additionally, 37%, for example, even said they would be motivated to floss daily if it was easier and took less time.

“It’s clear people want easy, time-saving solutions that actually work—and Proclaim provides exactly that, helping people live healthier, longer lives in just 7 seconds a day at the push of a button,” says Calves. “This done-for-you cleaning tool removes the stress, time and frustration that comes from your age-old, typical manual oral care routine. We urge other start-ups in the health and wellness space to continue to challenge the status quo through the power of prevention.”

Custom-Jet Oral Irrigator
Proclaim’s Custom-Jet Oral Irrigator is designed to deliver a fully customized and automated approach to achieve a comprehensive at-home dental clean. With the simple push of a button, the device has been clinically validated to reduce the signs of gingivitis in as little as 7 seconds a day, the company states. (Seven seconds at effective pressure. Total treatment time less than 9 seconds).

Employing cutting-edge digital intraoral scanning technology, facilitated through Proclaim's network of dental partners, and advanced 3D-printing techniques, Proclaim crafts personalized mouthpieces for each patient. These mouthpieces feature up to 60 strategically positioned, pressurized jets on both the facial and lingual interproximal sites.

Unlike conventional manual solutions, this innovation empowers patients to maintain their oral health effortlessly and sustainably in the comfort of their homes, thereby promoting superior preventative care.

Report Methodology
Third-party online market research company Pollfish conducted a May 2024 survey of 2,000 U.S. adults. Additional data sources include independent secondary research, states Proclaim.