"It's from red to white!": fewer than one in three French people brush their teeth properly

It's a small, everyday gesture that the French don't quite master: brushing their teeth. A barometer published this Thursday, June 26, by the Haleon company and the French Union for Oral Health (UFSBD) reveals that barely 32% of French people "brush their teeth properly, namely twice a day and for more than two minutes each time."

By asking passersby about their habits, BFMTV found some good and (slightly) less good students. "I do it three times a day. How much time do I spend on it? I don't know, I just brush my teeth. I don't pay much attention to the time..." explains Anne, a champion toothbrush user, who even tries to work with small brushes.

"It comes from my upbringing, I don't understand people who don't brush their teeth (...) It's from red to white! That's what we explain to children."

Others are a little more hesitant. "I do it in the morning and in the evening, because at lunchtime it's a little more complicated." And how long? "Two minutes, three minutes... Well, about," admits Anthony, who assures us that his movements are meticulous.

The results of this study do not surprise health professionals who are used to seeing people who are more or less attached to their toothbrush and tube of toothpaste.

"I think most people brush their teeth, but they don't spend the time needed to do it effectively. Often, they brush their teeth but don't know how to do it properly. Brushing your teeth is a form of care, and it sometimes requires training from specialists," emphasizes Dr. Carole Boubli, a dental surgeon specializing in orthodontics.

"Some people tend to scrub hard and fast when you need to scrub for a long time and gently (...) If we do a quality brushing, morning and evening, which will last 2 minutes, that will already be very good. It is better to brush twice a day than three times a day with a result that would not be up to scratch by rushing the brushing time," she tempers.

And the consequences of poor brushing are more or less well known. In addition to tartar and cavities, periodontal disease can also occur. And, since oral disorders have effects on the rest of the body, poor dental hygiene can also lead to heart problems .

Another lesson from the study concerns the link between the French and their dental health professionals, as explained by Dr. Benoît Perrier, president of the UFSBD:

"Compared to other European countries, we find ourselves somewhat at the back of the pack in terms of frequency (of appointments). They don't come for prevention purposes, but rather when there's a problem. We have fellow citizens who are a little too cautious about oral health and who come when the damage is present."

According to this barometer, one in three French people do not consult a dentist annually and 46% of French people "do not see the point" of making an appointment when there is no problem.