Wondering where you stack up against your fellow Americans when it comes to dental care? Well, help us celebrate healthy teeth this holiday and year-round by enjoying these patriotic dental facts courtesy of Delta Dental.
- Nearly seven out of 10 Americans brush their teeth at least twice a day but more than 30 percent aren’t brushing enough.
- Most Americans do it twice a day — once at bedtime and once after getting up in the morning — for an average of one minute and fifty-two seconds.
- Nearly six of 10 Americans brush their teeth at bedtime and as soon as they wake up in the morning, while 38 percent brush after breakfast. About 17 percent brush after lunch, and 21 percent brush after dinner.
- 91 percent of Americans brush most frequently at home in their bathrooms over the sink. However, about 4 percent say they most frequently brush in the shower. Americans ages 18 to 44 are twice as likely to brush in the shower.
- 23 percent of Americans have gone two or more days without brushing their teeth in the past year. Nearly 37 percent of adults ages 18 to 24 have gone that long without brushing.
- Only four of 10 Americans floss at least once a day, and 20 percent never floss. The survey showed a strong relationship between flossing daily and reporting good oral health.
For more results from the Delta Dental Oral Health and Well-Being Survey, visit deltadental.com. For more tips on brushing from the ADA, visit MouthHealthy.org.
