Failing to floss and visit our dentist - and only brushing half as much as we should be
Poorly funded and promoted dental schemes, long waiting lists for public dentistry, price rises in private health insurance premiums and the destructive forces of the pandemic…. a perfect storm for a dramatic decline in Australia's oral health.
Alarming new Australian Dental Association (ADA) data from the peak dental body's annual Consumer Survey released for Dental Health Week next week (1-7 August), has unmasked some surprising findings around mouth maintenance over the last 12 months.
Data relating to adults found that:
- 77% of us rarely or never floss, a fundamental part of a good oral health routine,
- only 13% have visited the dentist in the past 12 months,
- 26% of us haven't been to a dentist in over 5 years, and 40% haven't done so in the previous 2
to 5 years,
- 19% only brush once (or less) per day, and of this group, 30% said it was because it caused pain
while 14% thought it was bad for the teeth, and
- 66% of respondents were unaware that poor oral health can impact medical conditions.
Data relating to children found:
- 58% parents didn't know if they were eligible for free dental care for their kids through the Government's Child Dental Benefits Schedule (which provides $1026 in dental care every 2 years),
- 41% parents said a child's first dental visit should be at 2 years-old – with only 25% aware that it should be at 1 year-old or sooner if their first tooth erupts prior to their first birthday.
Teeth whitening statistics:
- 22% of us have whitened our teeth, an 8% increase since 2017,
- more than twice as many women than men have teeth whitened, and it's most popular in the 24-34 year-old age group,
- unfortunately only 1 in 3 adults whitening their teeth are doing so under the supervision of a dental professional – 19% are using take-home kits and 14% opting for in-clinic whitening, and
- the other two thirds are using other means - 39% are buying teeth whitening kits online, 16% getting over-the-counter products like strips or gel from a pharmacy or supermarket, and 9% are using whitening services provided by someone other than a dental professional.
"The level of knowledge about oral health and its knock-on effects is still not what it should be," said the ADA's Oral Health Promoter and Sydney dentist Dr Mikaela Chinotti.
"The pandemic has been tough for many people and for some this has led them to take their eye off the oral health ball - we're seeing the result in dental clinics across the land.
"Following the ADA's four key steps for good oral health will go a long way in helping Australians to keep their teeth for life: brush twice a day with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, clean between teeth daily, visit your dentist regularly and have a diet low in sugar.
"A healthy mouth is more than just clean and white teeth. Keeping your teeth healthy allows you to eat, speak and smile comfortably.
"To help Australians access up-to-date and evidence-based information on oral health, the ADA has created teeth.org.au, a one-stop shop for information and resources to help maintain their oral health and keep their smile for life."
About the ADA's 2022 Consumer Survey
- The ADA's Consumer Survey was conducted in November and December 2021 with
findings released in 2022. It had 25,000 respondents aged 18 and over.
- It was split between 66% metropolitan, 27% regional and 5% rural responses.
- The gender split was 49% male and 51% female.
- The data was collected from focus groups, phone interviews and online surveys.
