
Two thirds of people said they brush for less than two minutes, while one in three said they would skip toothbrushing altogether when they feel tired or lazy.
This is according to a survey of 2,000 UK adults on the topic of oral hygiene conducted by electronics retailer Currys. The most common reasons for skipping toothbrushing were:
- Feeling too tired or lazy at the end of the day – 34%
- Feeling unwell or sick – 25%
- Forgetting to brush – 24%
- Being drunk – 17%
- Running late or being in a rush – 16%.
Two thirds of people said they brush for less than two minutes (64%). One third of those surveyed said they brushed for less than one minute each time, while 16% said they only brush once per day. Just 38% said they floss.
Four in 10 people (38%) said they were not confident with their smile, with 68% considering their teeth to be discoloured or yellow.
Four in 10 (41%) of people said they experienced dental phobia, with 28% delaying essential treatment because of it. A further 17% said their fear of the dentist prevents them from going entirely.
On the other hand, 40% said they found it difficult to get a dental appointment when needed.
What is the most off-putting mouth problem?
The survey also asked which feature participants found most off-putting in a person’s mouth. Bad breath was the most common answer, mentioned by three quarters (73%) of people. The 10 most off-putting mouth problems were as follows:
- Bad breath (generic) – 73%
- Missing teeth – 41%
- Smoke on breath – 40%
- Discoloured / yellow teeth – 33%
- Garlic breath – 32%
- Visible plaque – 31%
- Food in teeth – 31%
- Onion breath – 27%
- Alcohol on breath – 25%
- Wonky / crowded teeth – 19%.
Do children still believe in the tooth fairy?
Another topic considered by the survey was respondents’ experiences with the tooth fairy. Seven in 10 (72%) said they believed in the tooth fairy as a child, with 88% of parents continuing this tradition with their own children.
The average tooth fairy payout was found to be between £2 and £3, though rates varied significantly by region.
Children in Greater London received the highest average tooth fairy payment £3.35. The lowest average payment was found in the south west, at £2.04. Around 7% of parents said they gave their children as much as £10 per tooth.
Around half of parents (53%) said their children spent tooth fairy earnings on toys, while one quarter (24%) said the money was saved for bigger purchases. One third (33%) said their children spent tooth fairy money on sweets.
Dentist Sara Amini said: ‘Many patients believe that keeping children’s teeth clean isn’t as important and there’s no point in worrying about cavities since they’ll be replaced by adult teeth.
‘However, problems with baby teeth can affect adult teeth, and losing them too early can impact jaw development and the space needed for adult teeth.’
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