12 hours ago
90% of Indians Suffer Dental Issues, but Only 9% Visit Dentists: National Survey
New Delhi: India is facing a silent oral health crisis. New national data shows that 90 per cent of the population suffers from dental problems, yet only nine per cent visit a dentist regularly. A staggering 41 per cent are at high risk for cavities, 44 per cent for gum disease, and 14 per cent for tooth staining — with 72 per cent of Indians at risk for at least one major oral health concern. The country's average oral health score stands at just 2.6 out of 5.
As India advances its healthcare ambitions, oral health — long overlooked — is finally being recognised as a crucial part of preventive care. A year-long Oral Health Movement (OHM), conducted in partnership with the Indian Dental Association (IDA), screened more than 4.5 million people across 18,000+ pin codes and over 700 districts — offering one of the most comprehensive pictures of the nation's oral health to date.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Prabha Narasimhan, MD & CEO of Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited, presented these findings at the Oral Health Movement Summit 2025 in New Delhi.
On the sidelines of the Summit,
Prabha Narasimhan
spoke to ETHealthworld's Rashmi Mabiyan Kaur about the company's India-specific strategy in the digital FMCG landscape, the future of oral health, how technology and wellness intersect, and why oral care must be seen as preventive health.
She also explained how the company is redefining oral care in India — from AI-powered retail precision and science-led product innovation to its mission of creating healthier generations.
Q: Oral health is linked to systemic conditions. What role does your company play in India's broader health ecosystem, and which groups should be more sensitised?
Yes, oral health is directly linked to systemic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Our role is to amplify awareness of this connection. While we don't comment on the diseases themselves, we emphasise that better oral hygiene leads to better health outcomes.
Groups needing greater focus include:
Diabetics, who often suffer from gum issues
People over 50, who have a higher incidence of gum disease
Young children, whose milk teeth determine the health of their permanent teeth
It's critical to start early. Good oral habits formed in childhood can last a lifetime. So, we see our role as not just selling toothpaste, but enabling preventive health across age groups.
Q: Based on your company's research, what trends are emerging in India's oral healthcare landscape, especially with snacking on the rise?
While we don't yet have long-term data, we are seeing clear shifts. One major change is in snacking habits — Indians now eat 4.5 to 5 times a day on average. It's not five meals — it's constant grazing. Each time you eat, your teeth lose calcium. That makes brushing with a high-quality toothpaste more critical than ever.
Lifestyle changes mean health habits must evolve. Just as sedentary lifestyles created a need for gyms, modern eating patterns demand better oral hygiene. The old logic of brushing once a day like our grandparents did doesn't work anymore.
Q: Is Colgate aligning its portfolio and innovation pipeline with the demand for natural, Ayurvedic oral care products?
Consumers buy benefits, not formats. When people choose a toothpaste, they want freshness, whitening, cavity protection, or pain relief — not just 'herbal' or 'natural.' Those are delivery mechanisms, not the end goals.
Our focus is to communicate that science-backed products deliver these benefits effectively. No company invests more in oral care R&D than we do, and we bring that technology to consumers in meaningful, perceivable ways. We're committed to addressing the benefit segments — how we get there, whether herbal or otherwise, depends on what delivers the best outcomes.
Q: How are you evolving your company's India strategy to ensure sustained leadership in this digitally driven FMCG landscape?
We're evolving in several strategic ways to remain ahead in the Indian FMCG space.
First, oral health remains at the core of our mission. Within that, our first pillar is to win with our core brands. Driving volume and growth for these brands is essential. The second pillar is premiumisation.
The third pillar is driving toothbrush usage. We're market leaders in toothbrushes, but India's average replacement rate is once every nine months — while dentists recommend replacing them every three. We aim to educate and shift consumer behaviour here.
Our fourth pillar is diversification, which includes everything beyond oral care. We're growing in the hand wash and body wash segments. We're also evaluating what we can bring in from our global portfolio to strengthen this arm.
Q: How are you integrating AI across operations?
On the tech front, AI, ML, and digital tools are embedded end-to-end in our operations.
We reach 1.7 million stores daily, and what our reps recommend at each store is AI/ML-powered. Even two stores in the same locality may receive completely different product recommendations based on their unique shopper profiles.
In manufacturing, most of our factories operate using digital twins, allowing us to monitor processes in real time and ensure top-notch quality.
In marketing, we leverage first-party data and cohort targeting, combined with Google's AI suite, to create and adapt content rapidly for specific audiences.
It's an exciting time — and we're only scratching the surface of what tech can do for us.
