The bathroom step 74 per cent of Aussies are skipping that could lead to disease

Nearly three-quarters of Australians are failing to include an important step in their daily dental routines, and risking developing nasty disease.

It is enough to wipe the smile off the face of adult Australians. A new national consumer survey has found most are not caring for their gums properly, if at all, and this is putting many on a fast track to serious dental and other health problems.

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) says a lack of gum care is no laughing matter as one in four adults have inflammation of the gums and a third suffer the serious gum infection called periodontitis.

This damages the soft tissues around the teeth and can lead to tooth and bone loss as well as other serious health complications.

The survey found 53 per cent of Australian adults brush their teeth twice a day.

The ADA survey of 25,000 people released on Wednesday also revealed:

A staggering 74 per cent admitted to rarely or never flossing their teeth

JUST over half brushed their teeth twice a day, and a third three or more times a day, but 17 per cent said they cleaned their teeth just once a day

MANUAL toothbrushes are the most popular tool with 62 per cent in the survey preferring them over electric toothbrushes

ONE in five adults said they regularly cleaned their tongue

The ADA recommends brushing teeth for two minutes twice a day, using a fluoride toothpaste and flossing once a day. Tongue scraping may be a popular social media trend, but the jury is still out on its effectiveness to improve bad breath.

The ADA survey revealed 74 per cent admit to rarely or never flossing their teeth.

The ADA said around one in four people who responded to the survey thought caring for gums and teeth were equally important and 19 per cent gave gums top billing in oral health care.

Of concern, it says, is that 25 per cent never think about how to look after their gums.

“This means many Aussie adults may be putting their mouths on a fast track to bleeding gums which often indicates gum disease and are a red flag,” Mikaela Chinotti said.

Dr Chinotti is the ADA’s oral health promoter. She said the results of the survey confirm a sizeable proportion of the population was risking their gum health every day.

“Together with risk factors including smoking, increased age and health conditions like diabetes, more and more Aussies have developed severe gum disease,” Dr Chinotti said.

“Together with jawbone and ligaments, the gums form the foundations that keep teeth in place. With severe gum disease, these elements are damaged, affecting how the teeth stay in place.

The ADA recommends brushing for two minutes, twice a day.

“Unfortunately, gums are the forgotten foundations of the mouth and plenty of people are not giving them a second thought.”

She said there was scientific proof linking periodontal disease and cardiovascular conditions, Type 2 diabetes and inflammatory bowel conditions.

The key, Dr Chinotti says, is to brush twice a day with a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste.

It is also important to floss daily, have a diet low in sugar and visit a dentist regularly for check-ups.

“If bleeding gums don’t subside with regular good oral hygiene practices, then see a dentist to investigate further because healthy gums don’t bleed.”