Systema Pledges To ‘Gumbatte Towards Healthy Gums & Teeth’ with Malaysia

You are probably among the 94 percent of Malaysian adults with gum disease 
based on data from the National Oral Health Survey of Adults 2010..

The main cause of gum disease is plaque, 
a soft sticky film containing billions of bacteria. 
When plaque builds up between teeth, 
along the gum line and inside gum pockets, 
the harmful substance caused by bacteria build up 
will damage the gum tissue.

In a recent study conducted by Lion Corporation 
on 450 Malaysian adults showed 80% of respondents 
had at least one visible sign or symptom of gum disease, 
the most common being bleeding and swollen gums, 
but only 1% realised that they have gum disease (Project Katsu 2017).
 

Oral health has a strong and proven relationship to systemic health. 
Research studies show corelations between gum disease 
and general health including heart disease, stroke, 
diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis,and most recently Alzheimer’s disease

Preventive oral health measures such as early detection 
and treatment of gum disease can change the oral disease continuum, 
a means to address the cumulative public health burden.

Systema, the gum health expert from Japan is working with 
the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH), 
and the Malaysian Dental Association (MDA) 
on a Corporate Social Responsibility campaign 
to help the public Gumbatte Towards Healthy Gums and Teeth, 
continuing and increasing its collaborative efforts of previous years.

 
The campaign aims to educate Malaysians and continue to 
uplift their oral care practices,
working towards better gum health for all 
by reaching more than 2 million people 
with fact-based and research-supported oral health information 
and free dental check-up to gradually reduce gum disease 
among adults by identifying and preventing oral health problems
 like gum disease before they become more serious.

 
The holistic CSR campaign includes 
the contribution of 10,000 trial size Systema toothpaste 
for the public, 9,000 full-sized Systema toothpastes for oral health frontliners, 
an interactive website www.gumhealthcheck.com 
that provides education on the signs and symptoms of gum disease, 
and a free gum health check assessment tool, 
free dental  checks-up via participating MDA member clinics
engaging educational and awareness raising activities on social media 
and deeply discounted Systema products 
to bring quality oral health products within everyone’s reach.

 
A social media campaign featuring influencers and users 
encouraging everyone to Gumbatte Towards Healthy Gums and Teeth 
will support the campaign from April 1^st to April 30^th, 2021.

 
Gum disease is highly prevalent, yet preventable. 
There is a serious lack of awareness of gum disease 
and its potential to impact quality of life, 
and its link to other major diseases as well. 
Collectively we need to help the nation improve its gum health 
to reduce the cumulative public health burden. 
Research studies show corelations between gum disease and heart disease and diabetes
If early detection and treatment of gum disease can help to lower corelations 
of these life-threatening diseases, w
e should explore it. 
Diabetes and heart disease are also known co-morbidities for COVID-19
Malaysians need to recognise the signs and symptoms of gum disease 
so that they know when something is wrong and can seek help.

Systema and MDA is looking forward to provide support in contributing products, 
educational materials, online and in-clinic dental check-ups, 
social media support and services to aid the public at this time 
when public dental clinics are stretched. 
This campaign can help the Oral Health Programme, 
MOH to educate more people on the critical need for better gum care and oral health, 
equip them with products, 
and channel them to free dental health check-ups for assessment.

 

Symbolic handover- 
Principal Director of Oral Health Ministry of Health (MOH), 
Dental Public Health Specialist, Dr Noormi binti Othman (LEFT) 
and Director of Oral Health Policy & Strategic Planning Division MOH, 
Dental Public Health Specialist, Dr Chia Jit Chie (RIGHT) 
accepting the 10,000 trial size and 9,000 full sized Systema toothpaste 
on behalf of the public and MOH frontliner.

Southern Lion Sdn Bhd, 

Senior General Manager, 

Ms Carmen Foo highlighted 

Systema’s social purpose of creating higher awareness of 

oral health for healthy gum and a lifetime of healthy teeth, 

moreso as the world grapples with the pandemic.

 “The pandemic has held us in ‘survival mode’ for almost a year, 
but now it is time to refocus on important issues such as gum health again. 
Healthy gums and teeth are vital for better quality of life, 
so let’s ‘Gumbatte’!  
Systema can help by making more people aware of 
the signs and symptoms of gum disease, 
that it can often be reversed during early stages 
by simply brushing teeth and gums twice a day,”said Ms Foo.

 “This CSR campaign has measurable goals 
that can be used to assess its effectiveness 
across the public and front liners, 
providing data on what works so that 
we can provide more targeted support in future 
to improve oral health outcomes. 
Tens of thousands of people can do online gum health assessments, 
and those who require can have free dental check-ups via MDA member clinics. 
The Systema Gumbatte campaign in 2019 resulted in 
almost 50,000 people taking the online gum health check, 
and more than 10,000 visits to participating MDA member clinics 
for free dental check-ups.,” Ms Foo explained.

Dr. Renukanth A/L Patabi Cheta Raman, 
Periodontist Specialist, 
Kuala Lumpur Dental Clinic.

Dr. Chong Zhen Feng, 
Honorary General Secretary,
Malaysian Dental Association (MDA).  

all photos credit to Systema

Systema Anti Plaque System comes with anti-plaque toothpaste 
and 0.02mm super tapered bristles toothbrush for a complete oral routine.