A majority of Canadians say their smile is important, yet few follow oral care regimens of regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing, according to the Crest and Oral-B Great Canadian Smile Survey.
While 57% of those surveyed say their smile is important, only 4% are willing to brush or floss. They say they don't have enough time or are too tired to do what it takes to maintain a health smile.
"Many of my patients will spend hours in the gym or watching their diet, but when it comes to looking after their teeth and gums, they seem to lose track of how easy it is -- it only takes about three minutes twice a day to brush, floss, and rinse," said Maryam Adibfar, D.D.S., a consulting dentist to Crest and Oral-B.
Two in three Canadians cite a healthy smile as an important health factor (62%), ranking behind cardiovascular health (81%) and healthy eating (76%), the survey found.
Other survey findings:
- Of those who don't brush their teeth twice a day, 4% admit they don't know how to use a toothbrush.
- Among the 26% of Canadians who don't go to the dentist at least once a year, 42% say they don't go because they can't afford it, and 29% say it's because they don't have dental insurance.
- Of those surveyed, 82% of the Canadians rate their own overall oral health as good, while only 62% say the same for Canada as a whole.
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