People put social life ahead of dental visits
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- Published: Wednesday, 18 June 2014 07:40
- Written by News Editor
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New survey data, published by the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF), reveals almost one in five (18 per cent) would cancel their dental appointment to go to the pub, order a takeaway, buy clothes, go to the cinema or go bowling. BDHF Chief Executive, Nigel Carter, urges people to discover why placing social life ahead of regular visits to the dentist isn't a smart move.
More than 2,000 people were questioned as part of the nation's annual reminder about the importance of oral health, National Smile Month. The campaign, which runs from 19 May to 19 June, encourages everyone to brush their teeth for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, cut down on how often they have sugary foods and drinks and to visit their dentist regularly, as often as they recommend.
Dr Carter said: “Visiting the dentist regularly, as often as they recommend, is a cornerstone of good oral health practice. If people are choosing to overlook that and perhaps harm their oral health further by snacking at the cinema, drinking too much alcohol or indulging in a poor diet they are risking further complications by just skipping one appointment. A shopping trip might be more fun, but the financial savings of prevention - to your mouth and to your wallet - are much higher than if you put off oral health treatment until it's too late. Visits to the dentist can identify problems in the early stages, before they develop into something more severe. If you forego basic check-ups due to cost, there's every chance when something goes wrong and you do need to visit the dentist you'll have to pay a much larger amount upfront.”
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