New research by Haleon, a leading consumer health company behind brands such as Sensodyne, Aquafresh and Corsodyl, has uncovered new insights from consumers and oral health professionals into the current state of oral health in the UK and the role of preventative oral healthcare***.
With oral health professionals working hard to provide the best possible service, many across the country are still struggling to access NHS dentist appointments. The research has revealed that this has led to three quarters (75%) of UK adults not regularly visiting an oral health professional as part of their oral health routine – roughly equating to around 41 million people.
This is having an important impact on the nation’s oral health. Alarmingly, oral health professionals believe that the nation’s oral health is declining, with a majority (64%) identifying a worsening of oral health over the last year. In addition, over a quarter (28%) of oral health professionals don’t believe that their patients have a good grasp on basic dental hygiene, including simple steps such as brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes.
The concern about worsening oral health is shared by adults across the UK, with two-fifths (41%) of those surveyed reporting that they are worried about the state of their own oral health. This is despite the majority (78%) of UK adults believing that oral health plays a significant role in overall physical health and mental wellbeing.
As calls made to the 111 NHS helpline regarding dental problems reached an annual record high of over 1.2 million across 2023-2024[1], it is vital to ensure the UK population is putting good oral hygiene practices into action at home to prevent major health issues and avoid putting further strain on NHS services.
It is also important that more people see an oral health professional to access preventative advice on how to look after their teeth and gums. Regular check-ups and interactions with oral health professionals can contribute to the prevention of serious health issues developing, such as tooth decay and gum disease, or ensuring that they are being caught and treated early. The majority (85%) of oral healthcare professionals and UK adults (76%) believe that preventative oral healthcare advice should be offered in every appointment and be covered within the NHS contract.
Industry also has a role to play, with the majority (83%) of oral healthcare professionals agreeing that consumer oral healthcare brands can support by giving consumers the knowledge and tools they need to prioritise preventative oral healthcare.
Jo Cooper, General Manager GBI, Haleon, commented: “We know that oral health professionals are under huge pressure, and people are struggling to access care. This is having a profound impact on the nation’s oral health. It is shocking to see that both oral health professionals and consumers recognise that oral hygiene is declining, despite its importance to our overall health. It is critical that we take action to reverse this trend.
Haleon, as a leading consumer healthcare company which owns brands like Sensodyne, Corsodyl and Aquafresh, stands ready to work with government, the profession, and our consumers to help improve understanding of a healthy oral care routine across all age groups and communities. Commitment to providing more people with the opportunity to live healthier lives is central to our purpose.”
Haleon calls on the UK government to work collaboratively with industry and the dentistry profession to prioritise preventative oral healthcare as part of its 10-Year Health Plan for the NHS. Through driving improvements in the nation’s oral health, this would contribute towards one of the Plan’s three key ‘shifts’ of focusing on preventing sickness, not just treating it[2]. The cost to the NHS of treating oral health conditions is around £3.6 billion per year[3]. In a context where NHS budgets are stretched, preventative oral healthcare represents one way of helping to reduce this pressure.
Haleon is committed to helping people across the UK access practical oral hygiene advice. This includes through providing materials to schools to help educate children on oral health habits through our Aquafresh Shine Bright Academy, and working with Tesco on a pilot to provide free advice on oral hygiene from a qualified Oral Health Educator in-stores.****
References
Survey Details: The surveys conducted 06.02.2025-14.02.2025 covers a nationally representative sample of 2,001 UK consumers and 250 oral health professionals.
*Regularly Visiting definition
The UK National Health Service recommends UK adults over 18 years of age to have a dental check-up at least once every 12 to 24 months.
Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-teeth-and-gums/dental-check-ups/ (Last accessed 10 April 2025)
**UK Adult population calculation
Office for National Statistics, Estimates of the population for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland Dataset, Mid-2023 edition of this dataset, released 08 October 2024.
Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorthernireland (Last accessed: 10 April 2025)
United Kingdom population over 18 years of age (inclusive) total = 54,196,443
75% = 40,647,332 = 41 million
***Preventative Care definition
Preventative care is defined as proactive dental care and advice that helps a consumer to take action to maintain a healthy mouth, protecting against tooth decay, gum disease and more serious issues such as tooth loss and negative impacts on general health.
**** Tesco Health Zones
For further information please see: Tesco makes new healthcare services available to customers while they shop
[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41404-024-2726-6
[2] https://change.nhs.uk/en-GB/
