A new national survey released by the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) revealed that 27% of U.S. adults have admitted to lying to their dentist about how often they floss their teeth. That’s more than a quarter or American adults!
- The survey, which was part of the AAP’s national “Love the Gums You’re With” campaign, also shared some other interesting and quite amusing statistics.
- More than one-third of Americans would rather do an unpleasant activity than floss daily:
- 14% said cleaning the toilet
- 18% said washing a sink full of dirty dishes
- 14% said waiting in a long checkout line
- 9% said sit in traffic or do their taxes.
"There's clearly more work to be done when it comes to educating Americans about the importance of oral hygiene. There are more than 500 bacterial species that can be found in plaque, and brushing alone does not remove the bacteria taht live below the gum line," says AAP President Joan Otomo-Corgel, DDS, MPH.