On May 7, 2012, our partners at Oral-B announced the results of a nationwide survey in conjunction with the “Brush More, Smile More Singapore” campaign. Conducted by research firm, TNS , the survey showed that 88% of respondents think Singaporeans should smile more, with a majority of 67% agreeing that they would smile more if they had healthy teeth. However, only 21% of Singaporeans had a
positive assessment of their dental health.
While many Singaporeans have general dental awareness, they still struggle with basic oral hygiene. The goal of Oral-B’s campaign is to debunk dental myths and encourage the public to go back to basics with three steps to instill healthy dental habits and a confident smile.
The three steps are:
1. Brush your teeth twice a day using the correct toothbrush
2. Brush your teeth for at least two minutes each time.
3. Visit the dentist twice a year
The Oral-B survey involved 364 Singaporeans aged between 16 and 55. The results of other surveys also highlighted the following:
- 25% of Singaporeans visit a dentist every six months
- 22% of Singaporeans agree that they are embarrassed to visit the dentist because they have unhealthy teeth.
- 38% of Singaporeans only visit the dentist when they are in pain
- 18% of Singaporeans only brush their teeth once a day
- 12% of Singaporeans only replace their toothbrush when it starts to smell or get moldy.
According to Dr Neo Tee Khin , Prosthodontist , Specialist Dental Group (Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, Singapore), dental health problems will increase over time and visiting the dentist every six months is important to maintain good dental hygiene and a healthy smile.
“We need to dispel Singaporeans’ misconceptions about dental hygiene and dental visits,” said Dr Neo.
Prevention is key; Singaporeans should brush their teeth twice a day, for at least two minutes each time, visit a dentist every six months, and make it a vital part of their daily routine.
For questions about dental problems or to make an appointment, visit the Specialist Dental Group website at: https://www.specialistdentalgroup.com
