New Survey Reveals Americans Need To Polish Up Their Dental Habits
**Tooth Alert**
-- (INTERNET WIRE) -- 05/30/2002 --
WHAT:
Healthy Habits Get Brushed Aside. Americans need to brush up on oral
health, according to the new Mentadent Smart Mouth Survey.* The national
survey provides a snapshot of daily dental habits and reveals that most
adults in this country need a refresher course on oral hygiene. According
to the survey, two out of three (67%) adults do not know or do not practice
proper brushing techniques – a habit that may be far riskier than
they realize.
WHY:
Minding Your Mouth. While many adults today admit to being blasé
brushers, research suggests new important health reasons to join the ranks
of the “orally obsessed” – those who brush and floss religiously,
and actually look forward to going to the dentist.
Good brushing habits are not simply about preventing cavities, they may
also be about preventing disease. Here’s what Americans had to say
about their knowledge, preferences and habits related to oral hygiene.
Freshen Up on the Facts
- Nearly one-third (30%) of respondents consider themselves a “smart
mouth” – someone who knows all of the proper brushing recommendations
and techniques and follows them routinely.
- Most Americans (61%) fall into the “middle-of-the-mouth”
category – someone who knows some proper brushing recommendations
and techniques but only follows them half of the time.
- About one in 10 (7%) admit to being a “blase brusher” –
someone who doesn’t know the proper brushing recommendations and
techniques and tries to do the bare minimum required.
- About one-third (32%) brush their teeth only once a day, which dental
health professionals say is insufficient to adequately remove plaque and
bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. Dentists and hygienists recommend
brushing twice a day.
- When people walk out the door, they often leave their oral hygiene
habits at home. Most of the respondents (81%) do not bring their toothbrush
to work, school or a restaurant. Only 14 percent brush their teeth during
the day at work.
- Some people have gone long stretches of time without brushing their
teeth. For example, 34 percent of Americans have gone one to three days
without using their toothbrush.
- Twenty percent of Americans are driven to brush to avoid the stigma
of bad breath, whereas only 18 percent are motivated to brush to prevent
periodontal or gum disease — a potentially serious problem that impacts
three out of four Americans.
- Almost three-fourths (71%) of Americans are less likely to date or
marry someone who has bad teeth or a bad smile.
- Only 23 percent of Americans would throw a toothbrush away if it fell
on the floor.
MEDIA
OPPORTUNITY: For an interview with registered dental hygienist, Beverly
Whitford and b-roll footage of brushing and dental exams, please contact
Courtney Maloney or Steve Bauer.
*Source: Impulse Research Corporation conducted the Mentadent Smart Mouth
Survey of 2,500 men and women on behalf of Mentadent. The random sample
closely matches the U.S. population demographics. The sampling error for
this survey is +/-2% at the 95% level of confidence.
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