More Needs to be Done to Improve Oral Health
Despite improvements in access to dental care in recent years, experts have warned that more needs to be done to raise standards of oral health.
Figures show that there have been major improvements in oral health over the last decade, however, decay and gum disease are still prevalent. Estimates show that potentially a third of children have signs of decay when they start school at the age of four or five years old and 3 in 10 adults admit to suffering from dental pain on a regular basis.
A survey focused on dental habits also revealed that people need to do more to care for their teeth and gums. A quarter of adults fail to brush their teeth twice a day and 1 in 4 adults haven’t paid a trip to a dentist in the last two years.
In order to raise awareness of the importance of oral health and oral hygiene the British Dental Health Foundation has launched National Smile Month, an annual campaign designed to encourage people to look after their teeth.
This year’s campaign is promoting oral hygiene, as well as saving water in conjunction with Save Water, Save Money. The campaign will run until June 20th and the key messages from dentists are to brush twice a day, avoid sugary snacks between meals and visit your dentist at least once a year for a routine check-up.
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