For many years, British oral health and bad teeth have been the butt of American jokes, from Austin Powers to the Simpsons’ Big Book of British Smiles. A recent survey carried out by YouGov, however, suggests that this is more fiction than fact. Ironically, beneath the glossy smiles of Hollywood, the US actually ranks very badly when compared with 11 other countries from all around the world, The UK, on the other hand, comes out pretty well.
Survey for World Oral Health Day
The survey was commissioned by the FDI World Dental Federation and presented on World Oral Health Day which took place in March and focused on two main areas:
- Awareness of positive oral health actions, i.e. knowing what you need to do to look after your teeth
- Actions taken to create positive oral health, i.e. putting the knowledge into practice
British people scored well for their knowledge of oral care, with only Canada and New Zealand ranking higher, but fared less well (sixth) at actually translating the knowledge into positive actions. In the words of Dr Patrick Hescot, FDI President: “These survey results highlight an alarming discrepancy between knowledge and actual good oral health practices.” The US, on the other hand, emerged very poorly from both elements of the survey with a 9th and 10th ranking respectively.
Aesthetic dental treatment pioneered in the US
The US were pioneers of aesthetic dental treatment of all kinds, including dental work which perhaps partially explains the myth of their wonderful teeth. The fact is most of the rest of the world has caught up and cosmetic or aesthetic work is now commonplace in the UK for everyone, not just TV or film stars.
At 76 Harley Street, we offer a range of procedures for enhancing your smile, from orthodontal work to crowns and veneers. Whether it’s advice on the best practice for oral care or a discussion about how an aesthetic treatment could improve your smile we’ll be happy to help.
