New research reveals 1 in 3 millennials in the US only brush their teeth once a day
New research has revealed that a third of millennials in the US only brush their teeth once a day, despite dental professionals recommending twice-daily cleaning.
A new survey conducted by OnePoll has revealed that just over 30 percent of 18-34 year olds brush their teeth once a day. The report showed that many adults aren’t as committed to their dental health as they should be and 62 percent admitted that they were scared to go to the dentist.
Brushing is essential for removing food debris and bacteria to prevent the formation of plaque, but this new study suggests that cleaning the teeth twice a day is too much of a commitment for a significant proportion of US adults.
In addition to an increased risk of dental health issues, including gum disease, decay and bad breath, research also links poor oral hygiene to general health issues. Studies show that poor oral health, most notably, advanced gum disease, can elevate the risk of heart disease, and gum disease is classed as an early risk factor for cardiovascular complications by the American Heart Association.
As part of the survey, around 2,000 people were asked to rate the fear factor associated with different types of medical appointments, and most people ranked going to the dentist at the top of the list. Dental appointments outranked visiting a surgeon and a neurologist.
Dental fear was found to be commonplace across the ages, but the proportion of people who suffered from dental anxiety was highest in the millennial age group. Over 60 percent of people said that going to a dentist was scarier than going to a surgeon, even though this type of appointment could be linked to life-threatening illnesses.
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