Almost a third of Canadians only brush their teeth once a day, survey reveals
A new survey has revealed that almost a third of Canadians only brush their teeth once a day, despite dental professionals recommending twice-daily brushing.
A poll conducted by Research Co. and Glacier Media found that 55% of adults brush twice a day, with 29% brushing only once daily and 17% brushing three times a day. The survey also suggested that 26% of Canadians didn’t visit a dentist last year. Over two-thirds of adults did attend at least one dental appointment in 2019.
Statistics show that the residents of Quebec and Atlantic Canada are most likely to brush more frequently and visit their dentist regularly, with oral hygiene standards slipping in Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta.
Researchers found that women are more likely to adopt good daily hygiene measures than men. A third of men only brush once a day, compared to 24% of women. Young people are also more likely to clean their teeth twice or three times a day than older people. Almost 40% of Canadians aged 55 and over brush once a day compared to 22% of 18-34 year olds.
Good dental hygiene is the best way to prevent decay and gum disease, yet the poll suggests that Canadians have a long way to go when it comes to perfecting cleaning techniques and adopting an effective daily oral hygiene regime. The low dental attendance rates will also be a cause for concern for dentists, as frequent check-ups lower the risk of oral diseases significantly.
