A quarter of Brits admit they dislike their own smile – because they are slacking when it comes to dental hygiene, a study has found.
One in five (21%) tend to avoid flashing their teeth in photos, as half admit there is room for improvement when it comes to keeping their mouth healthy.
Almost a quarter (24%) feel they are lacking knowledge about oral hygiene, while 15% feel the same when it comes to keeping their gums healthy.
And 11% confess they rarely, or never, think about the health of their gums – with 41% brushing their teeth for less than a minute each day.
The oral health survey of 2,000 adults, covering all topics of oral knowledge, also found that 13% have fibbed about how regularly they floss – and one in five go at least an entire day, each week, without cleaning their teeth at all.
And when it comes to visiting the dentist, 12% go less than once a year – but 9% have also told porkies about the frequency of their visits.
A spokesman from Sensodyne, which commissioned the research to highlight the importance of looking after gums as well as sensitive teeth, said: “There’s a lot going on in your mouth that you don’t think about.
“Aside from whether you have sensitive teeth or not, considering the health of your gums is vitally important – including reaching difficult areas in between your teeth and along the gum line.
“Often, out of sight can be out of mind – but in the case of your oral health, it’s critical to keep it at the forefront of your thoughts.”
Of those who dodge the dentist, 39% admit they simply don’t like visiting them, while 31% are not currently registered.
But 25% admit they would be embarrassed to go for a check-up, because of the state of their mouths.
And 16% have put off going because they’re worried about what they might find out, with 11% not wanting to get any work done, such as fillings or something even more invasive, according to the OnePoll.com figures.
When it comes to not brushing their teeth properly, 18% say this is due to running late for work – although 37% also acknowledged a good clean before bedtime is often missed.
It also emerged 11% rarely, or never, consider the health of their gums – and as many as 60% simply presume that by brushing their teeth, they are naturally also looking after their gums.
The spokesman for Sensodyne, which commissioned the research to mark the relaunch of its Sensitivity & Gum Toothpaste, added: “Healthy teeth and gums are something millions of people tend to take for granted.
“That's why it's so important to keep on top of our oral care routine. By correctly brushing our teeth twice-daily, we can help our teeth and gums stay healthy.”
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