Most British people are unaware of the full impact of poor oral health, according to a survey conducted by the insurance provider Simplyhealth.
The company surveyed 5,000 adults in the U.K. and found that 7 out of 10 were aware of the link between poor oral health and an increased risk of oral cancer and cardiovascular disease, but a much lower proportion of people were aware of the connection between oral disease and pancreatic cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and dementia.
Even more alarming was the number of people who said that they would not change their oral hygiene and lifestyle habits, despite that fact that they knew that poor oral health would increase their risk of serious illnesses. Some 22% said that they would not change their habits to reduce the risk of developing severe health conditions. The poll also revealed that 20% of adults don't brush their teeth twice a day, and the figure is even higher, 25%, for 25- to 34-year-olds.
