Members of Generation Z (Gen Z) and millennials may be more likely to believe dental health misinformation like false facts about fluoride in drinking water shared on social media, according to a survey conducted by the American Association of Endodontists (AAE).
Additionally, more than half of young adults reported making regrettable decisions based on misinformation about health they read online, according to the survey.
"We are concerned that fear and misinformation is contributing to younger adults avoiding the dental chair, as nearly half of both Gen Z and millennial adults surveyed admitted to only going to the dentist when experiencing pain in their mouth," Dr. Steven J. Katz, MS, president of the AAE, said in a press release dated May 28.
To better understand this issue, the AAE commissioned an online survey of 1,019 U.S. adults from February 19 to February 27. Almost half of Gen Z (48%) and millennials (46%) reported being afraid of root canals compared to 38% of the overall sample. Much of this fear stems from online content, with 40% of Gen Z and 36% of millennials admitting they frequently struggle to separate myths from facts about dental health, according to the survey.
Furthermore, 45% of adults reported having had a root canal, with 71% of those reporting satisfaction over choosing it instead of extraction. However, many adults still fear tooth loss, with nearly 3 in 4 saying they are afraid of losing their natural teeth, and 42% saying they only visit the dentist when in pain.
Also, 45% of people ages 18 to 34 are influenced by uncertified sources like influencers and peers, and 58% of this group admitted to making regrettable health decisions based on social media misinformation.
Although 94% of adults said keeping natural teeth is important, many don’t floss daily, and 23% trust Google searches for dental advice over dental professionals, according to the survey.
"People who do not get routine dental care are at risk for serious tooth decay, which can lead to overall health issues,” Katz added.
