How often are you brushing your teeth? Data collected by the Oral Health Foundation suggests that the answer could be “not often enough.” Many Brits are not taking their oral health as seriously as they should and many admit to falling out of routine when it comes to caring for their teeth and gums.
Oral health concerns for UK adults
As a UK charity with the mission to improve oral health and wellbeing in the United Kingdom and across the world, as part of National Smile Month, the Oral Health Foundation released the findings of new data collected on the oral hygiene practices of British adults. This data revealed that more than half of UK adults admit to skipping brushing their teeth at least once a week.
Whilst dental professionals recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, the Oral health Foundation’s data also found that one in six adults (16%) miss brushing their teeth at least three times a week, and people are twice as likely to forget to brush their teeth before going to sleep as they are in the morning.
These are concerning figures, as brushing your teeth at night is crucial for removing plaque, food particles and bacteria that have built up on the teeth throughout the day. While you are awake, saliva helps to neutralise acids and wash away bacteria, but as you sleep, you produce less saliva. This creates a dry environment for bacteria to thrive, aiding plaque build-up, which can lead to gum disease and cavities. Brushing your teeth before bed helps make sure plaque and harmful bacteria don’t stick around to cause damage overnight.
How often are you brushing your teeth each day?
The Oral Health Foundation also surveyed how frequently people are brushing their teeth and found that 24% of adults in the UK admit to only brushing their teeth once a day, rather than the recommended 2 brushing sessions.
This neglect of oral hygiene can result in the development of several dental problems. By failing to brush more than once a day, the mouth is much more susceptible to bacteria and plaque build-up, making people much more vulnerable to bad breath, gum disease, tooth decay and other health conditions.
Brushing your teeth is not enough
One positive statistic found that 36% of adults are using an electric toothbrush. Using an electric toothbrush provides several important benefits over a manual toothbrush, for example, electric toothbrushes, particularly those with rotating or oscillating heads, are much more effective for removing plaque.
Electric toothbrushes are also much gentler on the gums. As the brush moves automatically, at a much faster rate than a manual toothbrush, it is much easier to brush effectively around the gum line without having to put on a lot of pressure. In fact, most electric toothbrushes are designed to apply the right amount of pressure to effectively brush away plaque whilst protecting your teeth and gums. Brushing with too much force can lead to sore gums, gum recession, and enamel wear.
Whilst it is good news that over a third of adults are using an electric toothbrush, there are certainly other areas of oral care that not so good:
- Only 41% of people use mouthwash everyday - mouthwash helps reduce plaque and bacteria, freshens breath, protects against gum disease and strengthens teeth
- Only 18% clean between their teeth using interdental brushes every day - interdental brushes help to remove plaque and food particles from the areas your toothbrush can’t reach, helping prevent gum disease and reducing the risk of cavities
- Only 11% clean their tongue with a tongue scraper daily - the tongue can also harbour bacteria and debris, so removing this is important for supporting oral health, as well as preventing bad breath and improving taste
Another notable point to be found in the data is that there is a gender disparity in oral health practices. It was found that women are much more likely to stick to a strict routine of oral care compared to men.
How can I improve my oral health?
At Riverside Dental Spa, we are committed to improving the oral health of people in our region, encouraging all adults and children to establish good oral hygiene routines, and to arrange regular dental checkups. Developing great habits for caring for your teeth and gums is essential for your overall health and well-being, so we encourage you to:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
- Use an electric toothbrush
- Use interdental brushes or floss daily
- Use mouthwash
- Scrape your tongue
- Stay hydrated
- Limit sugary snacks and beverages
As well as following these practices on a daily basis, it’s important to see your dentist at least twice a year, or more frequently if you have concerns. By arranging regular dental appointments, any early signs of dental or other health problems can be found and treated early.
Book your appointment online here or call our freephone number - 0800 0154 222.
