Nearly one third of Britons have never been to the dental hygienist

What’s more, this study reveals that one third (36 per cent) of people in the UK feel going to the dental hygienist is too expensive. However, on average we are willing to spend more than £200 a year on beauty and grooming treatments, including spray tans, haircuts, manicures, pedicures and waxing. Almost half (49 per cent) of those surveyed admitted that they don’t go to the hygienist because they feel that going to the dentist regularly is sufficient.

Strangely, the vast majority (90 per cent) of Brits feel that their smile is important to their overall image, and a similar proportion rate a smile as important or very important in finding others attractive,  yet only 14 per cent of us rate our oral hygiene as excellent. Additionally, more than a quarter (27 per cent) of people said they have received negative comments regarding the cleanliness of their teeth or the standard of their oral hygiene.