Kenvue: Wash your mouth out!

In this year’s series of interviews for the EFP Partner newsletter, the EFP is looking at the link between lifestyle, nutrition, and oral health synergies and systemic health, which is now hardly disputed. From diabetes to cardiovascular problems, what goes on in the mouth does matter for the rest of the body. So, how are the EFP and its partners dealing with this?

In this interview we talk to Roshan Varghese, a trained dentist and Medical Affairs lead, smoking cessation and oral health, at Kenvue.

The company is famous for a particular mouthwash that is in cupboards all over the world and its work with dental-healthcare professionals to re-evaluate rinse. Kenvue recognises oral health as a critical component of overall wellbeing and acknowledges the growing body of evidence demonstrating a clear association between oral health and systemic health. Roshan Varghese puts some startling figures on it. “Globally, around 3.5 billion people live with an oral disease, and around 90 percent experience some form of gum inflammation. In Europe, the picture is particularly concerning, with more than half of adults experiencing a major oral disease in 2019, the highest prevalence anywhere in the world.”

Inflammation in the gums can affect heart disease and diabetes, with more systemic ailments now considered to be linked to oral health, so education is vital, believes Roshan Varghese. “The good news is that most people already understand that their personal care routines positively impact their overall health, view toothbrushing as essential for maintaining a healthy oral microbiome and believe mouthwash use prevents plaque and gingivitis, not just bad breath, according to our A New View of Care survey where we surveyed over 10,000 consumers in ten countries across the globe.”

That’s the good news, but there is bad too. “Despite the perceived power of personal care routines, many individuals struggle with consistency, motivation, and access to credible guidance, particularly in oral care. In the survey, consumers mentioned certain barriers to routine consistency include fatigue (28%), lack of motivation (24%), and busy schedules (24%).”

Tackling smoking

Oral-hygiene education is key, and dentists must help their patients with that. However, he emphasizes that lifestyle plays a key role and first on his hit list is smoking and its effect on gum disease, tooth loss, and oral cancers. “Across the EU, around one in four adults smoke, and more than one in five young people aged fifteen to twenty-four smoke. Supporting people to quit smoking is therefore one of the most effective ways to improve oral health and reduce long-term health risks more broadly,” explains Varghese. Again, he cites the importance of dentists.

“As dentists we are all uniquely positioned: we can see the signs of smoking such as staining, black lips, and breath even before we have a conversation with the patient. I would like to really encourage that you use these opportunities to proactively have conversations around starting them on their quit journey. There are really well-evidenced brief advice techniques (Ask /Advise /Act) where in as little as 30 seconds, you could support people to seek relevant support and treatment to quit smoking.” 

Kenvue does have its own licenced smoking-cessation product but there are other products available. People don’t just smoke cigarettes, there are vapes, pouches, and heat-not-burn tobacco.  Are these safer? “They still come with risks”, thinks Roshan Varghese.

“Nicotine pouches in particular are linked to gum diseases, so we need to be mindful of that reality especially in young people. We have collaborated with the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP) to create a new social-media toolkit to help spread more evidence-based easily accessible information about the health risks associated with smoking and alternative nicotine products which you can access here: Social Media Toolkit: Working Toward a Tobacco- & Nicotine-Free Generation - European Network.

Thinking broadly about other oral-systemic links, the mouth does not sit in isolation to the body. The oral microbiome can influence the gut, but also vice versa.  Varghese explains: “There is emerging evidence suggesting links between periodontal disease and gastrointestinal conditions through systemic inflammation and microbial interactions. Likewise, in women’s health hormonal changes such as during puberty, pregnancy and menopause can influence gum health by modulating inflammatory response and how the tissues react to the plaque biofilm."

New products

What of the future? What is Kenvue doing to evolve new products?

There is certainly good evidence around the adjunctive benefits of essential-oil mouthwash when used along with toothbrushing and interdental cleaning. However, beyond evidence for daily personal-care routines to be adopted, consumers also need to enjoy their daily oral-care experience, he believes. “We know that when it comes to practising daily self-care routines, consumers value the sensorial experience. Our latest innovation brings this to life well. With consumers at the centre, we have launched a new alcohol-free essential oil mouthwash range in the UK and US, organised by intensity, from extra mild to intense, offering greater consumer choice around the daily mouthwash experience.”

The future is looking bright according to Roshan Varghese, and he is optimistic.

“I think we are at a real turning point for oral health. The WHO oral-health action plan really brings to focus the importance of integrating oral health within broader non-communicable diseases system priorities. And this is where I believe governments, healthcare systems and industry all have a role to play. The benefits of prevention are well proven. The EFP’s own research shows that, over a 10-year period, every euro spent eliminating gingivitis can return between €16 and €58, depending on the country.”

Prevention doesn’t just save lives, it saves money!