Oral health in the UK has never been better than it is right now. 

Over the last decade we have made a lot of progress to reduce dental disease across the UK and ultimately bring better oral health to all. 

However we still have a long way to go to address oral health issues across the country and National Smile Month can help us address some of the issues detailed below.

3 The amount of school days on average that are missed yearly due to dental problems.

39% Almost two in five (39%) of adults that don't go to the dentist regularly.

66% Two in three (66%) of adults have visible plaque.

25% One in four (25%) adults do not brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.

31% Almost one in three (31%) of adults have tooth decay.

74% Around three in four (74%) of adults have had a tooth extracted.

33% One in three (33%) of adults have never flossed or cleaned interdentally.

60 million 60 million people in the UK do not have fluoridated water.

40miles Two million adults in the UK have to travel at least 40 miles to access dental care.

8772 There are over 8,700 new cases of mouth cancer each year.

6 million Over the last year, around six million adults in the UK have had long-lasting pain (over two weeks) caused by toothache.

6 million In the UK, there are 6.9 million people who smoke cigarettes.

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Useful links

How to clean your teeth Diet and your oral health Top tips for better oral health How to take part in National Smile Month