A dental health expert said Korean people need to shift their perception with a focus on prevention rather than treatment of gum diseases, and that this could be done by implementing standard gum brushing.
Korea’s Oral Health Association Chairman Park Yong-duk spoke on how to prevent gum diseases at a news conference in Seoul on Tuesday, organized by Philips Korea.
According to statistics from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), gingivitis and periodontitis result in 17 million periodontal disease cases annually in Korea, overtaking the common cold as the number one outpatient illness for three consecutive years since 2019.
Philips Korea celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Sonicare electric toothbrush, which promotes the standard gum brushing method by pulsing fluid between the teeth and along the gum line to efficiently eliminate plaque.
Park presented the results of a recent nationwide survey conducted on 1,000 participants to understand changes in people's oral health and brushing habits before and after Covid-19.
“While both interest and efforts to improve brushing habits and oral care have increased since Covid-19, the majority of South Koreans are still unaware that periodontal disease can have a negative impact on systemic diseases,” Park explained. “This results in incorrect brushing habits, such as focusing on tooth cleaning and neglecting gum care.”
In fact, 66 percent considered "proper brushing" to be the most important factor in preventing gum disease but only 37.4 percent of the respondents actually cleaned their gum line, which is the key to preventing gum disease.
After conducting a deeper analysis, it was found that most participants who did not clean their gums believed that brushing their teeth also cleaned the gumline. Only a small percentage, 9.4 percent, acknowledged using gargling as a means to manage gum pain in the event of gum disease.
Park advocated for the standard gum brushing method, which focuses on the gums, and the “0-1-2-3 brushing habit,” which breaks the mold of the “3-3-3 rule.”
The standard brushing method involves placing the bristles at a 45-degree angle to the gum line, making five to 10 small vibrations in place, and then using the wrist to rotate the brush in a sweeping motion from the gums to the teeth.
"Meanwhile, the 0-1-2-3 method involves brushing within one minute after eating, for at least two minutes, and at least three times a day, without irritating the gums," explained Park.
Lee Sun-young, General Manager for Philips Korea’s Personal Health Unit, said Philips Sonicare is an electric toothbrush that makes standard gum brushing more convenient and accurate.
Lee did not disclose the price point of the product as she claimed it would differ according to distribution channels but said the company will strive to provide consumers with the right maintenance at an affordable price.