A Quarter of Brits Avoiding the Dentist
New research suggests that one in four Brits are avoiding dental visits on a regular basis, with a quarter of people saying that they consider dental care an unaffordable luxury.
A study involving 10,000 adults revealed that one in four people have avoided going to the dentist over the course of the last 10 months, while one in nine have not visited a dentist for at least five years.
Four out of ten people also admitted that they avoid going to the dentist because they cannot afford treatment.
The study also showed that half of parents have taken their child to a dentist too late, with one in ten children under the age of 5 requiring a filling.
The results of the study will be worrying for dentists and public health experts, especially since there is a growing body of evidence to support a link between poor oral health and an increased risk of serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Professor Andrew Eder, clinical director at the London Tooth Wear Centre and the Eastman Dental Institute, said that eating and lifestyle habits can have a serious impact on the health of the teeth. Eating a diet high in sugar and acidic foods wears the teeth and increases the risk of the teeth ageing more rapidly.
Professor Eder took time to examine three patients’ mouths for a report in the Sun newspaper: one patient, Edward Bell, a musician from London, was told that his tooth age was 34, despite his real age being just 24. Dr Eder said that Edward’s diet, which is high in sugar, has contributed to cavities and years of drinking coffee and red wine and smoking has caused the teeth to become discoloured.
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