A new survey shows that more than 80% of New Zealanders have caries, and a majority show early signs of periodontal disease.
The dental health study, conducted by Oral-B, found that many New Zealanders ignore the most basic dental hygiene guidelines, including brushing and flossing, according to the company.
The study showed more than half of the respondents experienced bleeding gums, and 42% said they sometimes have halitosis.
Just over half of the survey respondents brush their teeth twice per day and 36% brush once. Only 45% visit the dentist annually, and 84% cited cost as the biggest reason why they didn't visit a dentist, while 13% said they stayed away because of pain, and 9% said it was inconvenient.
