Oral Hygiene Habits Around The World

It seems like oral hygiene would be pretty similar all over the world, but this isn’t the case – dental healthcare is actually quite different from country to country! Some countries have much healthier mouths than others do, and it seems like it would be a good idea for the whole world to get on the same page when it comes to dental care!

Below is some interesting information about what oral hygiene looks like all around the world. But first, let’s take a look at some general worldwide dental health statistics just to get an idea of where we’re at:

• Almost a third of adults 65 and over have none of their natural teeth remaining.
• Over two-thirds of children and almost every adult around the world have had cavities at some time or another.
• Dental issues are pretty much the same no matter what country you’re looking at. This includes heavy alcohol and tobacco usage, forgetting to brush and floss, and diets high in sugar.
• This one is obvious, but poor dental care and the tooth problems that result are the most common in impoverished and disadvantaged countries.
• Approximately one-fifth of middle-aged adults around the world have suffered from severe periodontal (gum) disease. This can lead to tooth loss and damage to your overall health.

Where The Countries Rank Against Each Other

While it’s impossible to say with exact certainty which countries have it the best and which have it the worse when it comes to oral hygiene, there is quite a bit of data that can give us a pretty good idea. That said, there is a lot of research out there that helps us get a better idea of where more effort needs to be put into educating the public on why they need to take care of their teeth.

There was a recent study which examined the number of missing or decayed teeth in the average 12-year-old. The results were as follows:
Worst countries:

• Poland (4 missing or decayed teeth in the average 12-year-old)
• Hungary (3.5 teeth)
• Czech Republic (2.5 teeth)
• South Korea (2 teeth)

Best countries:

• Netherlands (1 tooth)
• Denmark (0.75 teeth)
• Germany (0.75 teeth)
• Britain (0.75 teeth)

If you’re curious about where the U.S. ranked on this list, we fell right in the middle at 10^th place (1.25 teeth).

The best way to up our ranking is if each of us improves our own oral hygiene habits. Brush twice a day, floss daily and make sure you’re vising your dentist for a dental cleaning and exam at least every 6-12 months.

To make an appointment with Coastal Periodontics, please contact our office located in Portsmouth, NH.