According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 3.5 billion people are affected by oral health issues. Yet, it is often overlooked when it comes to general healthcare. In high-income countries, dental treatment is costly, averaging 5% of total health expenditure and 20% of out-of-pocket health expenditure. In lower-and middle-income countries (LMICs) the oral health care demands are beyond the capacities of the health care systems. The WHO finds oral health to be a key indicator of overall health, wellbeing and quality of life.
With good oral care practice, it is possible to avoid most oral health diseases. As part of SCI’s vision to drive authentic conversations about quality-of-life for the elderly, we have worked with TePe Oral Hygiene Products to focus on issues of oral health. With a strong basis in Swedish dentistry, Professors Bo Krasse and Hilding Björn had a deep interest in the benefits of interdental cleaning. Together they worked with wood-carver Henning Eklund to develop the first triangular dental stick in 1965. With its natural shape designed to fit the interdental space, their cleaning device proved to be more effective than the ones already on the market. From there, the product spread to pharmacies in Malmö and then across Sweden. Today Tepe’s vision “to bring healthy smiles for life, by inspiring good oral health” is central to raising awareness of preventive dental care and the connection between oral and general health. The company continues its mission to make good oral health possible for the masses.
In this final interview for 2019, SCI spoke with TePe’s Manager Odontology and Scientific Affairs, Anna Nilvéus Olofsson – based out of the organization’s Malmö headquarters – to understand the importance of education in changing people’s attitudes towards oral health.
Anna has a strong interest in preventive dental care and actively promotes good oral hygiene as a natural part of an overall healthy lifestyle. She says that it was important for her to join a company where she could stand behind the product portfolio and ethos.