Large Study Shows the Current State of Oral Health Around the World

A recent study has provided an overview of the current state of oral health around the world. There were both positives and negatives arising from the survey. While many suffer with oral health problems, a surprising amount of people said they had no such issues. Worryingly though, many are not aware of the link between oral health and physical health. The study found several trends that will aid future research.

A recent study has provided an interesting insight into the overall state of oral health around the world. The study took place across 15 countries. It provided an overall status of wellbeing, habits, desires and the concerns of oral health.

The research found that there are many positives in the oral health of study participants, but some worrying areas too. The findings also showed the impact that Covid-19 has had on oral health.

The Study

The research was carried out by the oral healthcare company Sunstar. They used 15,000 respondents, with 1,000 people from each of the 15 countries interviewed.

The respondents were all aged 18-65. There were an equal number of males and females. All respondents were asked a range of questions relating to their oral health.

There were six European representatives – the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Netherlands. In the Americas, the countries partaking were Mexico, USA, Argentina and Brazil. Then there were five Asian countries, Japan, China, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.

The research is called the 2021 Globally Healthy Thinking Report. The full report is available to see on Sunstar’s website, which you can access by clicking here [1]. You can also see a brief snapshot of the key results by clicking here [2].

Key Findings

We all know the importance of oral health. Having strong oral hygiene is important, which includes attending regular check-ups and brushing teeth at least twice a day.

Yet the results show that not everyone brushes their teeth twice every day. Those from Indonesia recorded the lowest percentage for brushing teeth twice a day, with 45% of respondents saying that they didn’t. Those that forgot to brush their teeth the least were Germans – with 80% of respondents saying that they always brushed twice a day. Reasons for not brushing teeth included forgetting, wanting to go straight to bed, being in a rush, or simply not being bothered [1].

In terms of oral problems, the most common issue was tooth sensitivity [1]. Tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath were among other common problems.

Thailand had the most oral health problems, with only 1 in 10 respondents having no issues to report [1]. This backs up earlier research, which has showed that Thailand has seen the quality of life of their citizens lower due to poor oral health [3]. The United Kingdom appeared to have the best oral health, with 40% of respondents stating they had no problems with their teeth [1].

Gum disease affects Italians the most, and the French the least. Oral health problems often cause bad breath, with those from Japan suffering the most with this; 34% of Japan’s respondents reported having bad breath. Those in Brazil had the least at 8% [1].

Such problems are sometimes caused, or at least aggravated by, poor habits. Smoking has a negative impact on oral health [4]. 27% of Spaniards and Germans admitted to smoking. Worryingly, only 39% of Singaporeans realised smoking was bad for their dental health. Conversely, 76% of respondents of Argentina said they knew smoking affected dental health [1].

Other common habits that people wished they could stop were drinking “staining drinks”, coffee, tea and eating sweets. Jaw-clenching and teeth grinding were other common problems [1].

Sadly, most people were unsatisfied with the appearance of their smile. Social media has been criticized for giving a false impression of what teeth should look like. It has also made more people conscious of their appearance [5].

As a result, many people said they wanted to have cosmetic makeovers. Netherlands was the happiest with their teeth, with 18% saying they didn’t want cosmetic treatment [1]. Just 5% of those from Thailand, Italy, Spain and Brazil said they didn’t want any cosmetic work [1]. The most popular cosmetic treatments requested were tooth whitening and straighter teeth [1]. Others included veneers and bonding.

Covid-19 has had a big impact on oral health. In fact, the World Health Organization talked about Covid-19 causing a “dental disaster”. Part of this was due to missed appointments and subsequent untreated issues. Exact numbers differed from country to country. 44% of Argentinians said they missed dental appointments during the pandemic. Yet only 12% of those in Japan did [1].

Problems like tooth sensitivity have become more problematic. 25% of American respondents experienced tooth sensitivity. Indonesia was the highest at 45% [1].

In more positive news, Covid-19 has led to improvements in brushing teeth. 27% of those profiled said they brushed their teeth more often than pre-pandemic [1].

What these results show

The authors of the study had mixed conclusions. They said that it was positive that many people were keeping their mouth healthy. But there were some worries, primarily because many didn’t understand the link between oral health and physical health.

Out of the many problems, there are also easy solutions. For instance, many were concerned with bad breath, but regular brushing, flossing and tongue brushing can help this.

Germany and the United Kingdom frequently finished highest in many categories. It is no coincidence that Germany and the United Kingdom had the highest rank in terms of visiting the dentist twice a year. The percentages were Germany at 45% and the United Kingdom at 42% [1].

While Canadian citizens did not take part in the research, the conclusions remain relevant. It shows the importance of visiting the dentist often and using excellent oral hygiene. It also shows we should try to cut out bad habits.

The authors stated that the level of dental decay and gum disease are “most certainly” associated with lifestyle choices. For instance, smoking, diet and alcohol consumption are areas we should aim to avoid.

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We offer many services, including regular check-ups, cavity fillings, root canals and some cosmetic services.

Dental problems should be addressed early and can be identified at check-ups. This helps to prevent the problem getting more severe. So, if further treatment is needed after a routine check-up, we give our patients a clear treatment plan.

The best way of avoiding extra treatment is to have strong oral hygiene. This includes brushing our teeth at least twice a day, flossing regularly, and getting a dental check-up at least twice a year. Avoiding sugary foods and drink and not smoking also helps.

If you ever need any dental advice, our team at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental will be happy to assist. This can include advice on treating bad breath, reviewing your diet, and any other dentistry-related guidance.

Our Calgary-based dental practice Savanna Dental also follows the Alberta Dental Fee Guide. This means our prices are competitive, transparent and affordable.

Summary

This report produced very interesting results. It shows that there is room for improvement in dental health around the world. However, there are many positives too. We should all take notice of the results. They serve as a reminder to adopt excellent oral hygiene, visit the dentist regularly and eat healthily.

We would love for you to visit our dental clinic soon! To read more about us and for other information, have a browse around our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca. We hope to see you soon!

• [1] SUNSTAR. (2021). Global Healthy Thinking Report: 2021 Oral Health Awareness Survey. Available: https://www.sunstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sunstar-Global-Healthy-Thinking-Report-2021.pdf. Last accessed: 10th September 2021.
• [2] SUNSTAR. (2021). Global Healthy Thinking Report. Available: https://www.sunstar.com/healthy-thinking-report/oral-survey-2021/. Last accessed: 10th September 2021.
• [3] Sombateyotha, K., & Mahaweerawat, U. (2017). Oral Health Status and Oral Impact on Daily Performance in Elderly in Northeastern Region Thailand. European Journal of Sustainable Development. 6(2), p240-244.
• [4] Miller, W. J., & Locker, D. (2007). Smoking and Oral Health Status. Journal of the Canadian Dental Association. 73(2), p155-165.
• [5] Rekawek, P., Wu, B., & Hanna, T. (2021). Minimally Invasive Cosmetic Procedures, Social Media, and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery: Use of Trends for the Modern Practice. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 79(4), p739-740.