Report card on dental health reveals Australians' brushing habit

A report card on Australia’s dental health has found that only half of Aussies brush their teeth twice a day as recommended. Such habit contributes to high levels of decay, with over 90 percent of adults experiencing it.

Australia’s Oral Health Tracker was released on Tuesday, showing statistics about the state of the population's teeth. One of the findings is that smoking and alcohol consumption contribute to poor oral health among a number of adults in their permanent teeth.

The report found that 17.1 percent of Aussies engaged in "risky" drinking, which is also being blamed for decay and is linked to some forms of cancer. It also cites smoking as a habit responsible for unhealthy levels of oral health. While 12.2 percent of the population identified as smokers, smoking rates are reportedly dropping.

Among adults, 15.5 percent have had severe tooth loss. This means they had fewer than 21 teeth.

Women and adults aged 18 to 35 are more likely to be part of the 51 percent of adults who brush their teeth twice on a daily basis. The tracker suggests that brushing habits drop off as people age.

Kids imitate what they see, with the tracker revealing alarming levels of tooth decay among children. Three out of four kids in Australia are consuming too much sugar, a known primary cause of cavities.

The Australian Health Policy Collaboration data also found that more than one-third of five-year-olds had decay in baby teeth. Several youngsters are being sent to the hospital, with kids aged five to nine having the highest rates of admissions. As for teenagers, the Oral Health Tracker shows that around one-quarter of teens have not had a dental check-up in 12 months.

Experts said that state and federal governments must fund more community education programs. They believe the elderly members of the community need a program similar to the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. They also encouraged improved labelling on foods so consumers could have a better understanding of how much sugar was in the products.

Dental academics, researchers, clinicians, policy and public health experts had worked together for the Oral Health Tracker. They set a total of 15 targets for adults and young people's dental health and plan to habitually report on the standing of the country’s dental health.