Survey results released ahead of Dental Health Week, August 5 to 11, uncovered some revealing insights into why Australians’ oral health is not where it should be.
Gums are the forgotten foundations of our mouths, with just over half (53 per cent) of the 25,000 people polled for the ADA’s annual Consumer Survey thinking that looking after their teeth is more important than looking after their gums.
Only 28 per cent said gums and teeth were equally important, and 19 per cent said gums were more important.
Meanwhile, 25 per cent of respondents also reported that ‘how to look after their gums’ is not something they think about.
While cleaning between the teeth is pivotal to oral health, as brushing only cleans about 60 per cent of tooth surfaces, with cleaning in between taking care of the other 40 per cent, the survey found that a shocking 74 per cent rarely or never floss.
Only 21 per cent clean between their teeth daily, which is recommended by dentists.
“This means that 74 per cent of Aussie adults may be putting their mouths on a fast track to bleeding gums, which often indicates gum disease and is a red flag,” Australian Dental Association oral health promoter Mikaela Chinotti said.
“Yet that’s what a sizeable proportion of our population is risking every day.
“Together with risk factors including smoking, increased age and health conditions like diabetes, more and more Australians have developed severe gum disease, known as periodontitis, over the years.
“These findings go some way to explaining why one in four Australians have inflammation of the gums and one in three have moderate to severe periodontitis.
“Together with jawbone and ligaments, the gums form the foundations that keep teeth in place.
“With severe gum disease, these elements are damaged, affecting how the teeth stay in place.
“Unfortunately, gums are the forgotten foundations of the mouth and plenty of people are not giving them a second thought.”
Dr Chinotti said countless scientific studies showed neglected oral health could either precipitate or worsen another health condition with robust evidence linking periodontal disease and cardiovascular conditions, type 2 diabetes and inflammatory bowel conditions.
For example, severe gum disease is a significant risk factor impacting the development and outcomes of type 2 diabetes.
“These serious health conditions can be, in some instances, improved if people look after their mouths,” Dr Chinotti said.
“That means brushing twice a day with a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste, flossing daily, eating a diet low in sugar and seeing your dentist regularly for check-ups, the four key messages of Dental Health Week.
“And if bleeding gums don’t subside with regular good oral hygiene practices, then see a dentist to investigate further because healthy gums don’t bleed.”
