Not just your teeth. Not just your gums. Your whole mouth.
Dental Health Week (6th-12th August) is an annual event run by the Australian Dental Association that aims to promote oral health across Australia. This year, the theme is ‘Watch Your Mouth’, which emphasises practicing good oral hygiene and improving overall dental health.
Whilst many people will think they are doing perfectly well in looking after their mouths the reality is, in fact, that:
• 65% of Australians haven’t seen a dentist in the last two years,
• 50% of Australians brushing their teeth only once-a-day,
• Nearly 40% never flossing or cleaning-between their teeth and
• 73% of young people (14-18 years) are consuming too much sugar
(Australian Dental Association, 2018)
These are some outstanding and probably very surprising statistics! While we all should know to brush our teeth twice a day, we sometimes miss the other important aspects of oral health such as a healthy diet and other hygiene practices such as flossing. This is why the ADA holds this annual event to try and spread the word about keeping our mouths happy and healthy.
For tips on brushing and flossing and how diet can impact your dental health, visit the ADA website.