More than half of adults say they have neglected their dental health as a result of the pandemic lockdown – and a quarter have resorted to ‘DIY dentistry’ to try to resolve problems with their teeth.
Fifty five per cent of people polled for the Oral Health Foundation and Colgate said they have been looking after their teeth less now than during the pandemic.
Around one-in-six (15%) admit to not brushing their teeth as much as before the pandemic while almost one-in-five (19%) say they have not been brushing their teeth twice a day.
One-in-five (20%) adults are now eating unhealthier foods and more than one-in-ten (11%) have been drinking more alcohol.
Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, said that since the pandemic emerged, it has been easy for people to get into the mindset that their health is not in their control.
But he said: “There are, however, elements of your health that you do have full authority over. One of these is the health of the mouth.
“Good oral health is completely in your own hands. All it takes is the correct care. By adopting a few simple habits, you can prevent oral diseases like tooth decay, that sadly remain far too common.
The research shows that almost one-in-five (18%) have not seen a dentist for over two years, not just because of lockdown.
Meanwhile, more than one-in-three (36%) have reported toothache during COVID-19, with nearly one-in-ten (9%) experiencing the pain for longer than two weeks.
Almost one-in-four (24%) have been online to fix oral health problems at home.
Carter said: “DIY home dentistry is a terrible idea and should be avoided at all costs.
“Home treatments in untrained hands often comprise of shortcuts that come with added dangers and can lead to permanent damage to your health.”
