Study finds Americans frequently forget to brush their teeth

Source: Talker
·1 min read

Participants in a recent survey admitted to forgetting to brush their teeth as much as five times a week. They also admitted to skipping out on floss and mouthwash four days a week.

The survey of 2,000 American adults was conducted by OnePoll, on behalf of Listerine Clinical Solutions for World Oral Health Day.

Although they may forget at times, 92% of those surveyed said their oral care routine was important to their overall health, so much so that more than half said they would speak with a loved one if they noticed they had poor oral care habits or bad breath.

75% agreed there is a “right way” to care for your oral health. This includes going to the dentist regularly (81%), brushing your teeth multiple times a day (75%) and using mouthwash (60%).

One-quarter of the respondents admitted they are embarrassed by their current oral health.

“While it’s promising to see that people are keeping dental health top of mind, as a dentist, I encourage more commitment to maintaining each of the critical steps of the oral hygiene routine — all of which are crucial to healthy teeth and gums,” said Dr. Marie M. Jackson, dentist and LISTERINE Clinical Solutions partner. “Brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash twice a day, every day really are our best tools when it comes to fighting and preventing common oral health issues.”

Some who took the survey said they had witnessed unconventional methods of oral health, such as ‘using a washcloth to clean their teeth’ or ‘using fishing line to floss.’

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 general population Americans was commissioned by LISTERINE® Clinical Solutions between Feb. 23 and Feb. 29, 2024. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).

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