Introduction Encouragingly, the results of our recent dental survey indicate that a large proportion of British adults are aware of how the health of their mouth can impact on other elements of their health. However, it seems what isn’t so positive is that 20% of British adults do not perform simple tasks such as brushing their teeth twice a day, to help keep their mouth healthy

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The hidden impact of poor oral health
Introduction
Encouragingly, the results of our recent dental survey
indicate that a large proportion of British adults are aware of
how the health of their mouth can impact on other elements
of their health. However, it seems what isn’t so positive is
that 20% of British adults do not perform simple tasks such
as brushing their teeth twice a day, to help keep their mouth
healthy.
The impact on overall health
Nearly seven in ten (67%) people are aware that the health
of their mouth can have an impact on other elements of their
health. A third of people polled think that poor oral health
is linked to cardiovascular disease1
and a clued up 59% of
people think that poor oral health is linked to mouth cancer2
.
However, only 24% are aware that having diabetes3
can
increase the risk of gum disease, whilst a significant four out
of ten (40%) UK adults don’t know that having osteoporosis4
can increase the risk of tooth loss.
Only a small number of British adults are aware that poor
oral health is linked to dementia6
(6%), pancreatic cancer7
(5%) and rheumatoid arthritis8
(5%). Perhaps of greatest
concern is that 22% of British adults would not change their
current habits if they thought poor oral health was linked
with more serious health conditions.
Bad dental habits
As children, most of us are taught to brush our teeth twice
a day. However, our survey shows that two in ten people
admit to not brushing their teeth in the morning and at night.
Whilst almost a quarter (23%) of UK adults avoid fizzy or
acidic drinks, only 11% leave half an hour after eating before
brushing and even less (9%) drink water after eating fruit or
drinking fruit juices. Acids and sugars in foods weakens and
softens the enamel on your teeth. This means that if you
clean your teeth too soon after eating when the enamel is
still soft, you are slowly brushing away the protective coating
on your teeth.
Ensuring that you take good care of your oral health, by
brushing, flossing, using interdental brushes and using
alcohol free mouthwash for example all contributes towards
healthy teeth and gums.
About our research
The research was conducted by OnePoll using an online fieldwork
methodology. OnePoll surveyed 5,000 working adults from 25 March to
2 April 2013. The research abides by the Market Research Society (MRS)
code of conduct and is based around principles of data protection legislation
and research ethics. The MRS code has the confidence of the business
community, Government and regulators.
1
BMJ 2010;340:c2451 doi:10.1136/bmj.c2451 www.bmj.com/content/340/bmj.c2451
2
British Dental Health Foundation 2013. Avaliable from www.dentalhealth.org/tell-me-
about/topic/mouth-cancer/mouth-cancer [accessed 15 April 2013]
3
Jansson,H., Lindholm, E., Lindh, C., Groop, L., and Bratthall, G., 2006. Tyoe 2 diabetes
and risk for periodontal disease: a role for dental health awareness. Journal of Clinical
Periodontology, Vol 33, issue 6, pp408-414
4
Nicopoulou-Karayianni K, et al. Tooth loss and osteoporosis: the osteodent study. J Clin
Periodontol, 2009, 36, 190-7
5
www.diabetes.org.uk [Accessed 17 April 2013]
6
Paganini, A., White, S., Atchison, K. 2012. Dentition, Dental Health Habits, and
Dementia: The Leisure World Cohort Study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society,
Vol 60, Issue 8
7
Michaud, D., Joshipura, K., Giovannucci, E., and Fuchs, C., 2007. A Prospective Study
of Periodontal Disease and Pancreatic Cancer in US Male Health Professionals. National
Cancer Institure, Vol 99: p171-175
8
Mercado, F., Marshall, R., Klestov, A., Bartold, P., 2001 Relationship Between
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Periodontitis. Journal of Peridontology, Vol 72, No 6
People with diabetes can be up to three times
more likely to develop gum disease, Diabetes UK 5
76% of British adults aged 55+ think that
the health of your mouth can impact other
elements of your health, compared with just
58% of 18-24 year olds
6% of British adults are embarrassed by the state
of their teeth