Dental health is put on the back-burner for young people who insist that getting their hair done is more important.
Health on Female First
In a recent survey by Denplan, the UK’s leading dental payment plan provider, nearly half of 18 - 24 year olds surveyed said they prioritise the time they put into their personal appearance over that of the time they put into their dental care.
Also, 57% admitted that they could do a better job of looking after their teeth with a frightening 38% prioritising luxury spending such as hairdressing and clothes, higher than spending on their dental health. But perhaps most importantly, 34% of this same age group surveyed said they don’t feel there is enough information readily available on how to look after their teeth and overall health, which is twice as great a proportion as in the 55-64 age group.
Roger Matthews, Chief Dental Officer for Denplan said: “It’s hugely concerning that the youth of today are placing their oral hygiene and dental care low on their daily priority list, as it can have a detrimental effect on their health in the future. However, with such a high percentage of young people saying they can’t find the right information - could this be why they are pushing their oral hygiene lower down the list?”
He continues: “There are many, on-going studies indicating the links between oral health and general health, including diabetes, heart disease, mouth cancer and, most recently in the media, osteoporosis, making the importance of dental care even more vital. These health concerns may seem like a distant worry for this age group now, but if they don’t start to think about prevention they could put their health at risk in the future. Besides this, there are the more immediate, obvious risks when it comes to looking after their oral health, such as tooth decay, bad breathe and gum disease, which not only effect their overall wellbeing, they could have an effect on personal and professional relationships – something that I’m sure is of concern to all ages, but particularly to this younger generation. We need to encourage better awareness around the importance of oral health with the younger generation, and the ones to follow, so they can take more responsibility and interest in looking after their teeth and gums – or we could face a growing population that is adding to the stress on an already stretched NHS system with health problems down the line. There is a real focus on raising the level of understanding for preventive care for diseases linked to things such as obesity and smoking, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be doing the same for oral health.”
In order to combat the fact that this younger age group say there is not enough information readily available to them, Denplan has set up a website for consumers to provide them with useful information and advice on how to best to look after their teeth and oral health and what can be done on a day-to-day basis to have a perfect dental routine, making for a happy, healthier mouth and ultimately better health overall!
Denplan Dentist Martin Fallowfield, of Smile Oral Care practice in Peterborough, says: “I’m not surprised by these latest survey results. Many young people I see in my surgery focus on having a Hollywood smile, rather than the health of their teeth and gums and for this reason my dental hygienist and I spend a lot of time explaining why it is so important and how exactly to look after teeth and gums. The reality is that, in the media that is aimed at younger people, you’re much more likely to read about the sort of food someone eats, or clothes their wear or how white their teeth are, than how well they look after their teeth and health. It’s a shame as I can imagine if there was suddenly a celebrity diagnosed with something that was spotted by their dentist like mouth cancer, I’m sure there would be more general interest and awareness about dental care.”
He adds: “It’s easy to put aside five minutes in the morning and before you go to bed to brush your teeth, floss and rinse, and if you can afford to put money aside for non-essentials then budgeting for regular visits to the dentist and renewing your toothbrush, should not be too much of a hardship. The long term benefits outweigh the short term ‘hassle’ and what’s more, a preventive approach saves you time and money in the long term, something I’m sure most people want more of! And, it’s worth noting that, if you are interested in obtaining a ‘Hollywood Smile’ through cosmetic dentistry, you will need to have a healthy set of teeth and gums before going ahead with any work to avoid risk of infection.”
22 year old Digital Account Executive, Tom Burnel says: “There is a lot more pressure to have the “perfect smile” these days, but I think most people believe the only way to achieve it is through expensive dental work. I must admit I don’t look after my teeth as well as I could. I definitely don’t know enough about the bigger risks that are attached to poor oral health and think it’s the same for most young people, we don’t get taught these things, so something like the Denplan website will be useful for giving advice and tips on the best way to keep a healthy mouth and set of teeth.”
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