Health-conscious patients hoping to avoid emergency dentistry should ensure they clean their teeth twice per day, experts have advised.
A new study conducted by the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) revealed that 49 per cent of the public are putting their oral health at risk by not cleaning their teeth.
Conducted as part of the National Smile Month campaign, researchers discovered that women are the most likely to flout hygiene guidelines, with 59 per cent regularly forgetting to carry out the act before going to bed.
In addition, one in ten respondents confessed to starting the day without thinking about oral hygiene, with one in ten skipping brushing altogether.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the BDHF, said: "Anyone who regularly skips brushing their teeth – morning or night-time – is storing up oral health problems for the future such as tooth decay and gum disease."
Dental professionals have been urged to get involved in National Smile Month with the aim of increasing awareness of the importance of oral hygiene in people of all ages.