Only one in 10 Brits are brushing their teeth correctly, study finds

Some alarming figures

According to a research which was carried by Oral-B, to coincide with the launch of their Brush for Better campaign, from the research of 2,000 adults it was revealed that 63% of Brits spend less than the recommended two minutes brushing their teeth.

Meanwhile, 16% are brushing their teeth only once a day while nearly three-quarters (74%) aren't flossing daily, in spite of dentists urging them to do so.

As per Oral-B, one in four UK adults have untreated tooth decay, and 9% show signs of severe gum disease.

The poll of 2,000 adults highlighted a significant gap between perception and reality when it comes to the UK’s oral care habits, revealing 88 per cent are not consistently following professional advice.

How much time is spent brushing teeth and what toothpaste is used - revealed

As 63 per cent spending less than the suggested two minutes brushing their teeth, and 16 per cent only brush once a day, this is half as often as recommended.

The study also found that 11 per cent don’t use a toothpaste with fluoride, as recommended, while 17 per cent admitted they weren’t even sure what type they use on their teeth.

According to the Oral Health Foundation, many people continue to face challenges accessing dental care, making good oral hygiene habits at home more important than ever.

They also report almost one in four UK adults have untreated tooth decay, and nine per cent show signs of severe gum disease.

Oral-B will be taking their purpose-built dental bus on a nationwide tour, aiming to educate Brits about the importance of dental hygiene, while they'll also be providing free dental and oral care to under-served communities.

At the end of its journey, the purpose-built dental bus will be donated to Dentaid - The Dental Charity - joining its fleet of mobile dental units, which provide free dental care and oral health advice to under-served communities.

“Good oral health starts with the habits we practice every day at home, yet the research reveals a clear gap between perception and reality when it comes to how people care for their teeth”, David Ewan, Northern Europe senior director oral care, Oral-B, said.

“That’s why making expert advice accessible is so important. By the end of the bus tour in November, we want to have meaningfully increased the number of people following the recommended oral care routine.”

In spite of its important role in overall wellbeing, the research also found oral health is often deprioritised compared with other health habits.

It appears that many are putting more effort into healthy eating (52 per cent) and exercise (47 per cent) than looking after their teeth and gums (37 per cent).

And it’s the youngsters who appear to be more receptive to improving their oral care habits, with 32 per cent of Gen Z saying they would improve their routine if they had more advice.