Facts & Figures

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Dental Health in England

In 1998, 87% of the UK population had some natural teeth, while 13% had lost all their natural teeth.
46% of dentate adults (those with natural teeth) had decay.
90% of all dentate adults had at least one filled (otherwise sound) tooth
Fewer than 1 in 5 people (18%) overall had 12 or more filled (otherwise sound) teeth.
One third of dentate adults in the United Kingdom had at least one tooth with an artificial crown (34%).
Adults who reported going to the dentist only with trouble had twice as many decayed or unsound teeth as those who reported attending for regular check-ups.
About 5 million people visit their dentist with toothache every year
Smoking and drinking account for the majority of cases of mouth cancer, which kills over 1,700 people every year.
19 out of 20 people suffer from gum disease at some point in their life
Nearly one-third of UK adults have 12 or more fillings.
97% of people agree that dentistry is a vital part of a family’s overall health
Since 1978 the proportion of adults who had lost their natural teeth decreased from 30% to 21% in 1988 and to 13% in 1998
Twice as many dentate adults in the United Kingdom in 1998 reported attending for regular dental checkups (59%) than reported only attending when they had trouble with their teeth (30%)
Women were much more likely than men to report seeking regular dental check-ups; around two-thirds of women (66%) compared with just over half of men (52%).
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Fluoride

Fluoride reduces tooth decay in children and adults.
Research has shown that fluoride is effective in preventing tooth decay.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in different amounts in most water supplies
It can be added to water, milk, salt, toothpaste, varnishes, drops and gels to help protect against tooth decay.
People who use fluoride have less decayed teeth than people who don't use it.
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Fluoride Toothpaste

Fluoride toothpaste has been widely available for over 50 years.
Most adults only change their toothbrush once a year. It is recommended that a toothbrush should be replaced 4 times a year.
99% of all toothpastes sold in the UK contain fluoride.
Fluoride toothpaste is the most widely used form of fluoride.
Children can start using fluoride toothpaste as soon as their teeth erupt.
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Water Fluoridation

11% of the UK population have fluoride added to their water.
5 million people in UK drink fluoridated water.
Research has shown that if there is enough fluoride in drinking water, it can help reduce tooth decay.
People living in fluoridated areas suffer much less tooth decay.
Over 300 million worldwide drink artificially fluoridated water. 13 million of these live in Europe.
Another 40 million people drink water that naturally contains about the recommend level of fluoride, including a proportion in the UK.
Over 5 million people in the UK drink artificially fluoridated water at the recommended level.
The West Midlands is the largest region in the UK with about 3.5 million people. This is one of the largest schemes in the world.
Half million people in the UK drink naturally fluoridated water.