How good is your dental hygiene? Do you have a sparkling smile, or do you tend to hide your teeth when it comes to photos? Take this quiz to find out if you really know how to keep your mouth healthy.
It comes as nearly a quarter of Brits (24%) admit they don't know as much as they should when it comes to oral hygiene – with 12% visiting the dentist less than once a year.
Four in ten (39%) say they simply don't like trips to the dentist – although 25% admit they avoid going as they would be embarrassed to have a check-up due to the state of their mouths.
And this may be because 41% own up to brushing their teeth for less than a minute in total each day – with a fifth, of the 2,000 adults polled, saying there is at least one day a week when they don't brush at all.
Nearly a fifth (18%) claim that this is due to running late for work – although 37% also acknowledge they often miss a thorough clean before bedtime.
The oral health study, covering topics from brushing frequency to oral knowledge, was commissioned by Sensodyne, to highlight the importance of looking after gums as well as sensitive teeth.
A spokesman for the toothpaste brand 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, nearly a third (31%) are not currently registered.
But 16% have put off going because they’re worried about what they might find out – with 11% wanting to avoid getting any work done, such as fillings or something even more invasive, according to the OnePoll.com figures.
But 9% have told fibs about how often they visit the dentist – while 13% have also been untruthful about how regularly they floss.
And 15% admit they don't know much about gums, with 11% rarely, or never, considering the health of their gums.
In fact, as many as six in ten simply presume that by brushing their teeth, they are naturally also looking after their gums.
As a result, 25% say they have never been keen on their smile, and 21% tend to avoid showing their teeth when smiling in photos.
Half of those surveyed believe they do a “decent” job in keeping their mouths healthy, but admit there’s room for improvement.
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.”
