Survey Highlights Brits Have Bad Dental Habits

Thu, 22 May 2008

A national dental survey has revealed how Brits are risking their oral health with a range of bad dental habits.

Conducted by the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) and Oral B to mark the beginning of this year’s National Smile Month (18 May - 17 June), the research highlighted people’s shocking dental habits, which included flossing while driving, opening bottles with teeth and ignoring bleeding gums .

Commenting on the findings, BDHF chief executive Dr Nigel Carter said: "It is National Smile Month but these results do not give people in the UK a great deal to smile about."

"People are putting themselves at risk with these shocking habits – around 85 per cent of people are completely unaware of the link between the health of the mouth and the health of the body."

"Gum health, in particular, is very important and has been linked to a range of conditions. However, people are risking their gum health by picking and flossing without paying the necessary care and attention."

Dr Carter added that 13 per cent admitted to flossing while driving and a significant number of people risked cuts and infection to their mouth by "using every day items such as hammers, screwdrivers, scissors and lollipops to pick food from between their teeth" .

The survey’s findings also revealed that almost of half of the 29 per cent of people that suffer with bleeding gums simply ignore the problem or brush their teeth more softly to avoid aggravating it.

The BDHF’s ‘Brush for Health’ theme is being used to raise awareness of the link between oral health and serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, strokes, and the risk of low birth-weight babies.
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