But laid bare here are some of our most curious habits unmasked, thanks to the Australian Dental Association’s survey of 25,000 people released this week during Dental Health Week.
* It may come as a huge comfort to Australian parents to know they’re not alone with basin battles, with 43 per cent regularly struggling to get kids to clean their teeth.
* In the battle to get kid’s teeth clean, 24 per cent of parents provide positive intervention such as entertaining their kids or brushing with them at the same time, while 21 per cent offered rewards, 20 per cent removed privileges, 20 per cent resorted to discipline and 9 per cent just gave up.
* While 85 per cent of kids stay in the bathroom to brush and floss, the rest wander around the house, onto the balcony or out into the garden.
“This presents a choking hazard with young children, and they won’t be getting the job done properly without a mirror or adult assistance,” said the ADA’s oral health promoter Dr Monica Farrelly.
“Keep the bathroom as the only place kids do the brushing and flossing, and perhaps offer rewards for staying put.”
* It’s not just kids who get distracted as one in five Australian adults multitask while teeth cleaning - 31 per cent use their phone, 16 per cent knock out household chores like cleaning and laundry, 2 per cent listen to music or a podcast, 10 per cent shave or do skincare, 9 per cent attend to children’s needs, 6 per cent go to the toilet and 5 per cent take a shower, watch TV, exercise or cook.
“How some of these other tasks are executed with any accuracy is hard to imagine,” Dr Farrelly said.
“The important thing is to literally stand still in front of a mirror when you’re brushing and flossing so you can see if you are doing it correctly.
“Without a reflection to see, there’s a degree of guesswork.”
Other fun facts
* $6.20 is the average amount the tooth fairy leaves per tooth. It was $2 a tooth 25 years ago, around a third of today’s rate.
* 21 per cent of people become nervous before visiting a dentist for a check-up, however modern dentist education includes skills to manage anxious patients with a range treatment protocols to reduce anxiety.
* 42 per cent of couples use different coloured toothbrushes to avoid using each other’s – a great idea to ensure your partner’s germs don’t become yours. The same goes for children’s toothbrushes – keep them all apart and labelled if needed.
* 47 per cent don’t know what toothbrush bristle strength is suitable for them – the ADA recommends a soft toothbrush as medium and hard bristles are too abrasive and can damage teeth and gums.
* 73 per cent normally brush their teeth for less than two minutes per session – the recommendation is two full minutes.
* Nearly one in 5 people clean their tongue daily.
“This is great as it removes bacteria that sits on the top of the tongue and can contribute to bad breath and tooth decay,” Dr Farrelly said.
“Also, plaque sitting on the tongue can produce acid which results in further opportunities for tooth erosion.
“While some of these habits sound a bit odd and off the wall, it’s important to consult with your dentist about how to effectively maintain your oral hygiene at home and prevent any serious dental problems developing.”
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