Are the UK’s Oral Hygiene Levels a Cause for Concern? Recent Survey Reveals All

Are the UK’s Oral Hygiene Levels a Cause for Concern? Recent Survey Reveals AllPractising basic dental care keeps our teeth healthy and helps prevent bacteria and other germs from getting into our mouths. However, some people have the wrong mentality of even neglecting their dental health and not brushing regularly.

To understand the levels of the UK’s current dental hygiene routines as part of National Smile Month 2022, Hive, a UK dental accountants organisation, created a survey and asked respondents a variety of questions regarding their dental routines.

36% Of Brits Have Never Used Mouthwash

From this survey, 36% of participants within the age range 35-44  asserted ‌they had never used mouthwash. Although individuals may not necessarily need to use mouthwash if they brush and floss their teeth often, it is still advised to use it immediately after brushing and flossing.

Mouthwash is by no means a replacement for brushing or flossing because it is incapable of removing stuck particles within the layers of your teeth.

39% Of 25-34-year-olds Do Not Maintain Proper Oral Hygiene

The percentage of people that have bad oral hygiene is quite disturbing. It shows that the individuals who fall into this age range go about their daily activities, forgetting to even brush their teeth.

Additionally, other studies verified this act. Out of the 21% British residents that have moderate-to-high sugar diets, 19% do not brush and floss their teeth twice a day, which eventually leads to tooth decay.

For these reasons, measures must be put in place to ensure that people get the proper education about their oral health before any dental problem occurs.

28% Of Respondents Have Shared Their Toothbrush At Least Once

You must wonder why some respondents admitted to sharing their toothbrushes. Whether it is because it gets mixed up in the bathroom because of their toothbrushes being quite similar, or for some other bizarre reason, it is not wise to ever share a toothbrush.

For starters, toothbrushes can contain a lot of bacteria, which could spread from individual to individual during the sharing process. This‌ leads to the contraction of detrimental diseases and, ‌increases the number of bacteria on their toothbrushes.

Another oral problem that can arise is gum disease, which is one of the recent dental health issues. Gum diseases could lead to terrible conditions such as toothache, severe tooth decay, and tooth loss.

Oral health professionals have drawn serious attention to the disadvantages of sharing toothbrushes. With this awareness being created, dental professionals hope individuals will slowly stop this habit and their dental health will improve.

One-third of respondents are not registered with a dental hygienist

33% of the survey respondents stated they currently don’t visit a dental hygienist. Perhaps this could be because dental costs are too high at the moment.

Research shows that a hygienist treatment will cost an individual between £23 and £282, depending on the particular dental treatment required. Some of these treatments include fillings, crowns, dentures, teeth removals, root canal work, and bridges, which many find expensive.

However, having good dental health does not make up for regular checkups with a dental hygienist because they can examine your teeth better and prevent you from experiencing severe dental issues in the future.

49% of 25-34-year-olds visit the dentist over four times a year

This is quite extraordinary to see. Some people are going that extra mile to look after their dental health.

Frequent dental visits will aid the early detection of overpowering diseases, such as oral cancer, so it is encouraging to see that there are people who are taking their health seriously.

Conclusion

There are many other benefits that come with maintaining proper oral hygiene habits and, with the right education and awareness, people can become more conscious of their oral health by making it a part of their lifestyle.

You can read more about Hive Business’ UK survey results by clicking here.