Not brushing one’s teeth may lead to tooth decay, one of the most widespread oral health problems in the UK. An estimated 31 per cent of adults in the country have tooth  decay (Photo:chalabala/Shutterstock)

2013-6-11 | News United Kingdom

RUGBY – A new survey published recently by the British Dental Health Foundation has shown that many people in the UK have a poor attitude with regard to oral health. It found that a considerable number regularly skip brushing their teeth and flossing even though this could lead to severe health problems, such as tooth decay and gum disease, in the future.

The survey revealed that nearly seven million people in the UK regularly skip brushing. According to the foundation, one in five people (20 per cent) frequently omit flossing, and one in four (25 per cent) do not cover their mouth when coughing and do not wash their hands after going to the toilet.

In addition, the investigators found that the general attitude towards oral hygiene in the population has not improved over the last two years. In 2011, almost 30 per cent said that they did not brush their teeth even once a day, while 15 per cent cleaned their teeth on only two days a week.

As part of National Smile Month, the largest oral health campaign in the UK, which is run annually from 20 May to 20 June, the survey was carried out by Atomik Research, an online research company, on behalf of the foundation. It was conducted among 2,044 UK adults in February.