The Impact of Oral Health on Organizational Success

Jessamin Cipollina, GoMo Health
Cassandra Cousineau, GoMo Health

At the core of every successful workplace is a healthy and productive workforce. A priority among today’s employers and organizational leaders is the health and wellness of their employees, but there is a vital component of total health that is often overlooked – oral health. Promoting the importance of oral health care to employees and customers has numerous benefits and can directly impact your bottom line.

Beyond the Mouth – Poor Oral Health Care is Connected to Chronic Conditions

According to the World Health Organization, oral diseases – including tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancers, among others – are the most widespread noncommunicable diseases in the world, affecting almost half the global population. Over two billion people suffer from tooth decay worldwide,¹ and periodontal disease, or severe gum disease, affects 20-50% of the global population.²

Poor oral health is associated with other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory conditions, and taking steps to improve oral health can help reduce risk for complications related to chronic illness and avoid adverse health outcomes. Promoting the importance of good oral and dental care is a major step in the right direction to improving your organization’s overall well-being and productivity.

Prioritizing Oral Health in the Workplace

Did you know that regular dental check-ups and at-home oral health care can significantly reduce the occurrence of oral health problems and related anxiety that may impact overall well-being? Many people do not realize this connection. As an employer or organizational leader, you have the power to raise awareness and promote oral health – helping employees and customers stay healthy and reduce avoidable claims.

Benefits to Investing in Oral Health:

Improved Overall Health and Wellness

Promoting good oral health habits and offering dental benefits can improve the overall health and wellness of your employees and customers. Oral health professionals can detect early signs of systemic diseases like diabetes or cardiovascular issues during dental exams, which can lead to early intervention and treatment.

Prevention of Serious Oral Health Issues

Over $45 billion is lost in productivity in the United States each year because of untreated oral disease.³ By encouraging regular dental check-ups and good at-home oral health care, you can help minimize the need to take time off from work for planned dental procedures or unplanned dental emergencies.

Demonstrate Social Responsibility

By raising awareness about the importance of good home-based oral health management and utilization of dental benefits, you can contribute to the total health of your workforce and foster a positive and engaged work environment. Ultimately, recognizing the importance of oral health can set the stage for long-term organizational success.

What can you do to promote oral health in your workplace? Here are a few ideas:

• Offer dental benefits and encourage employees to utilize them.
• Provide educational resources about good at-home oral health habits. Check out the “A Healthy Mouth for Every Body” toolkit which contains a wealth of great resources for promoting oral health education and literacy in the workplace.⁴
• Host on-site dental check-ups or offer incentives for employees to visit their dentist regularly.⁵
• Recognize and celebrate National Oral Health Month in June.⁶
• Integrate oral health into overall workplace health initiatives.

Investing in oral health education and care is crucial for organizational success. Learn more about the benefits of improving oral health within your organization by taking our 30-second survey.

References: 

1. World Health Organization. Global oral health status report. 2022, Nov 18. Accessed February 16, 2024. https://www.who.int/team/noncommunicable-diseases/global-status-report-on-oral-health-2022/
2. Sanz M. European workshop in periodontal health and cardiovascular disease. Eur Heart J Suppl. 2010;12(Issue suppl_B). doi:10.1093/eurheartj/suq002.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health and Economic Benefits of Oral Health Interventions. 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/programs-impact/pop/oral-disease.htm.
4. Health Resources and Services Administration. A Healthy Mouth for Every Body Campaign Toolkit. 2023, March 1. https://www.hrsa.gov/oral-health/toolkit.
5. Premise Health. How Onsite Dental Benefits Help Your Organization Stay Competitive. 2023, February 3. https://www.premisehealth.com/resources/blog/how-onsite-dental-benefits-help-your-organization-stay-competitive/.
6. Dilling, W. How to prioritize your oral health for oral health month. 2023, May 22. Delta Dental. https://blog.deltadentalnm.com/2023/05/how-to-prioritize-oral-health/.