Whiter than white... women lead the way in teeth care

By REBECCA WALSH

One in five New Zealanders brush their teeth only once a day and some admit to brushing only a few times a week, a survey has found.

The survey, conducted for Colgate, revealed just over 40 per cent of people never flossed their teeth and found nearly a third of people had not visited a dentist for more than a year.

Overall women were better at looking after their teeth than men.

The research, released for Oral Health Month (a Colgate initiative supported by the dental association) involved interviews with 505 New Zealanders aged 16 and over.

Colgate spokeswoman Dr Barbara Shearer said the initiative was designed to raise awareness of and encourage good oral hygiene.

"It is a timely reminder for us to pay more attention to our dental and oral care - and it seems the guys are going to have to smarten up their act," she said.

About two-thirds of people brushed their teeth twice a day but one per cent admitted they only brushed a few times a week. About 60 per cent of men brushed two or three times a day compared with nearly 90 per cent of women.

Dr David Crum, chief executive of the New Zealand Dental Association, said women tended to visit the dentist more often and were "more in touch with keeping good oral health".

He believed it was because they were more likely to ensure children brushed their teeth and were leading by example.

The association recommended annual check-ups for most people but more frequent dentist visits for those who ate more sugary foods and brushed infrequently.

Just over half those surveyed said they replaced their toothbrush every three months but one in 20 people said they waited up to 12 months.