Do People Ever Share Toothbrushes? 28% of UK Residents Have Claimed to do so at Least Once

There are many oral habits that can have a positive or negative impact, not only on your oral health but on the overall quality of your life, too.

Although some individuals are not aware of the health challenges that can develop because of bad dental hygiene, learning how to observe basic oral hygiene practices should be something that is self-explanatory.

To help raise awareness of the current state of the UK’s dental health as part of National Smile Month 2022,  Hive business created a survey and asked respondents a series of questions, and here are the key findings:

People Still Share Toothbrushes

A surprising 28% of UK respondents declared that they have shared their toothbrushes at least once.

Dental and healthcare professionals do not recommend this. Regularly sharing toothbrushes will leave people exposed to a variety of bacteria, and this can spread easily from person to person.

This can lead to inheriting detrimental diseases and cause gum disease, as well as severe toothache, tooth decay, and even tooth loss.

36% Of 35-44-Year-Olds Have Never Used Mouthwash

Mouthwash helps freshen your breath and eradicate some ‌bacteria that live there. While you don’t necessarily always need to use mouthwash as part of your brushing routine, it is recommended to do so after brushing and flossing.

However, some people may not want to overuse mouthwash regularly. A previous European study revealed that excessive use of mouthwash – more than three times a day – might cause people to have a higher risk of developing throat and oral cancer.

39% Of 25-34-year-olds Do Not Observe Proper Oral Hygiene

A high amount of adults still are not brushing their teeth properly, let alone at all. To hear that some 25-34-year-olds brush their teeth less than once a week is astonishing.

As mentioned in the European study previously alluded to before, Dr Conway from the University of Glasgow Dental School said, “But for me, all that’s necessary in general is good regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing combined with regular check-ups by a dentist”.

33% of respondents do not visit a dental hygienist

33% of the survey respondents disclose they are currently not registered with a dental hygienist. Nevertheless, one might argue that it could be understandable why people don’t because of the high costs involved.

NHS banding costs for bands 1-3 can cost £23.80, £65.20, or £282.80, depending on the nature of the treatment. However, the costs might be quite high, people should not be discouraged from visiting hygienists as they can help detect any severe issues early.

Conclusion

The statistics of this survey show some basic oral hygiene principles are still being neglected. Regular dental visits, brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, and reducing sugar intake can go a long way to help improve dental hygiene.

To achieve this result, there is a need to increase the level of oral education and awareness, so people can make oral hygiene habits a part of their lifestyle.