More than a quarter of patients lie about how often they floss, according to a new survey released June 23 by the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP).
Of the U.S. adults surveyed, 27% said they lie to their dentist about how often they floss. In addition, more than one-third said they would rather do an unpleasant activity, such as cleaning the toilet (14%), instead of daily flossing.
The results also showed some regional distinctions in oral healthcare. Among the top 10 U.S. markets, Chicagoans were more likely to choose an hour of gridlock traffic over daily flossing. Meanwhile, New Yorkers were the most likely to include flossing in their personal care routine.
"There's clearly more work to be done when it comes to educating Americans about the importance of oral hygiene," AAP President Joan Otomo-Corgel, DDS, MPH, said in a press release.
The survey, conducted online in March by Harris Poll on behalf of AAP, included 2,021 U.S. adults.
