Many in U.K. skip brushing before bed

Nearly half of the U.K. population (47%) has admitted to regularly skipping brushing their teeth at bedtime, putting their oral health at risk, according to a survey conducted by the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF).

Women are the most likely to break one of the three golden rules for clean and healthy teeth, with 59% regularly skipping brushing their teeth at bedtime, compared with 35% of men. In contrast, relatively few people skip brushing their teeth in the morning, with just one in 10 people starting the day without looking after their teeth, according to the BDHF.

The survey, conducted as part of the foundation's National Smile Month campaign, also found that 28% admitted to not brushing their teeth for 24 hours and that 15% had not cleaned their teeth for more than two days.

Brushing first thing in the morning coats the tooth's enamel with fluoride to strengthen and protect the tooth surface against acid attacks throughout the day, noted Nigel Carter, chief executive of the BDHF. Brushing last thing at night removes the plaque and coats the teeth with fluoride to protect the tooth's surface during sleep, he added.