Consumers believe maintaining good oral health essential to protecting overall health during pandemic

Posted on October 16, 2020 in General oral health

Delta Dental of Illinois applauds those who continue to make their oral health care a priority as they navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. According to new consumer survey data, a majority (86%) of Americans believe maintaining good oral health is essential to protecting oral and overall health throughout the pandemic. 

In fact, at-home oral care habits such as brushing, flossing and using mouthwash remained positive during COVID-19:

• 77% of consumers report they are brushing according to the recommended guidelines of twice per day or more during the pandemic (March 2020–present), a figure that is on par with pre-COVID data findings and marks an improvement since 2019 (75% in January 2020 vs. 68% in 2019).
• 45% of consumers report they are using mouthwash twice per day during the pandemic, which signals a slight increase in pre-COVID trends with 41% who reported the same in January 2020.
• During the pandemic 38% of consumers reported flossing at least once per day, which is the recommended guideline, and another 35% said they are flossing twice per day during the pandemic, demonstrating a commitment to good oral hygiene at home.

Additionally, a recent study from the Delta Dental Institute found that 91% of consumers believe taking care of their oral health now will help prevent other health problems later. Furthermore, a significant majority of Americans believe that routine dentist appointments remain important during the pandemic: 69% of consumers agree the benefits of a routine dentist appointment outweigh the potential risks of delaying preventive care. This sentiment reinforces an understanding of the importance of seeking professional dental hygiene cleanings in addition to at-home practices.

It's clear that good oral health hygiene leads to better overall health. October is National Dental Hygiene Month and no better time to learn more about maintaining good dental hygiene. Visit Delta Dental of Illinois’ general oral health blogs page today!

About the survey

This survey was fielded among a nationally representative Americans ages 18 and older. The survey was conducted online during the period of Oct. 9-11, 2020 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.