A nation of ostriches

With National Smile Month now upon us, now is the time for people to confront issues around their dental health head on. However, the findings from the leading price comparison site reveal that when it comes to their health, many Brits admit choosing to bury their heads and ignore potential problems (51 per cent).

Delaying the dentist can lead to fillings, tooth decay/erosion, abscesses and ulcers to name only a few. Despite these potential problems, some people will still not go to the dentist if they can help it. With these problems being left untreated, they could knowingly/unknowingly be causing much more serious health implications as a result. Worryingly, nearly a third (31 per cent) Brits admit they have made a situation worse by not dealing with a problem when they should have.

Interestingly, going to the dentist seems to be more of an issue for the younger adults. Of those who say they put off going to the dentist, over two-fifths (42 per cent) are aged 18-24 and a further 42 per cent are aged 25-34 – a significant difference to those aged 55 and over with just 30 per cent putting off a dentist appointment.