World Heart Day 2023 – Intermediary Toolkit.

Every year on September 29^th, World Heart Day is celebrated worldwide. Here’s why heart health should be a top priority for your clients and their business.

World Heart Day helps us understand how crucial heart health is for feeling good. It doesn’t matter how old we are, having a healthy heart is super important!

Heart health and oral health are linked as gum disease is connected to a higher chance of having heart or blood vessel problems. People who have poor oral health have higher rates of heart attacks or strokes than people with good oral health. Our oral health can also help provide doctors with warning signs for a range of diseases and conditions, including those in the heart.

Maintaining good oral health is not only important for our mouths but helps keep our whole bodies healthy, including our hearts.

Why does this matter to your clients?

Oral health issues have had a notable impact on employees. It is estimated over 1, 330 workdays were lost due to dental pain this past year. Even those who continued working while in pain faced issues – 29% had trouble focusing, 25% couldn’t work as well, and 14% were snappier with co-workers.¹

Prioritising and promoting good oral health can help keep our hearts healthy and result in a healthier, happier and more productive workforce.

At Bupa we know people are at the heart of your client’s business, so we’ve pulled together some tools and resources for you to share, with them, that raise awareness of the importance of looking after oral health and heart health.

For your business:

Ensure your clients and their employees are mindful about their heart health; let them know about World Heart Day.

Resources that you can share with your clients so they can share with their team.

Supporting your teams heart health.

Video: Heart Health: Top Tips for a healthier lifestyle.

How are gum disease and heart health connected? (PDF, 0.1MB)

Signs and symptoms of gum disease. (PDF, 0.1MB)

How dental health contributes to your overall health.

The importance of looking after your oral health.

Reminder for your client’s insured employees:

Frequently asked questions (PDF, 1.8MB)

Our Dental Care Support Line is available if your clients and their employees have an issue and can’t see their own dentist. Employees can call 0808 239 2406.

Your clients and their employees can also use our Finder tool to search over 360 Bupa Dental Care practices, find their nearest practice and book their next routine appointment online.

You’ll find lots more support, tools and information on the Bupa dental page.

^1. Employees delay dental treatment worrying about time off work | Bupa.com

Sources:

Watch: How is gum disease linked to heart problems and diabetes? - BHF

https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/gum-disease-and-the-connection-to-heart-disease

The silent danger of deep gum disease - BBC Future

Gum Disease and the Heart - The Heart Foundation