DT News - UK - Brits take their toothbrush everywhere they go

Dental Tribune International

Thu. 18 June 2015

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RUGBY, UK: Whether wandering the Great Wall of China, camping out in the wilderness or flying long haul to the other side of the world, there is one travel essential the British apparently always bring with, no matter where they go: their toothbrush.

A national survey, commissioned by the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) as part of National Smile Month, questioned 2,000 people about the most unusual places in which they have brushed their teeth. Answers revealed exotic places like Yosemite National Park in California, the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and the Australian Outback. Other exceptional choices for cleaning one’s teeth included a bomb shelter in Israel and a delivery room while their partner was giving birth.

Although some of the answers certainly draw a smile, the results showed that most people did not neglect their oral hygiene habits while out and about. Consequently, the most popular tooth-cleaning places were planes, trains and automobiles.

Dr Nigel Carter, OBE, Chief Executive of the BDHF, welcomed the fact that many Brits seem to be willing to go to great lengths to maintain their brushing habits even when facing challenges such as long flights or a lack of sanitation.

“So many of us seem to take our toothbrush wherever we go—mountains, jungles and even dates. This is good news, as it shows just how many people understand the importance of regularly brushing their teeth,” Carter said.

Brushing one’s teeth last thing at night and at least one other time during the day with a fluoride toothpaste is one of the BDHF’s key messages. To this end, Carter stressed: “Taking four minutes out of 1,440 in the day sounds pretty simple, but you would be surprised just how many people forego this most basic of health tasks.”

National Smile Month 2015 runs from 18 May to 18 June. The initiative was established in 1977 and is the UK’s largest annual oral health campaign today.

More information can be found at www.smilemonth.org.

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