Friendship not as important to consumers as oral health, Delta survey claims

A survey suggests that more adults say their oral health (85%) is important to their life than their diet or nutrition (71%), relationship with friends (71%), or weight (71%), according to statistics compiled by Delta Dental.

The Delta Dental survey said that most adults (85%) recognize that oral health is important to their overall health and having good oral health makes them feel confident on a daily basis (67%).

"There is a growing trend for Americans to correlate oral health with overall health and well-being," said Bill Kohn, DDS, chair of Delta Dental Plans Association's Dental Science Committee. "For example, mouth conditions can be associated with many important and serious systemic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and even some cancers."

The Adult's Oral Health & Well-Being Survey indicates that 88% of Americans are dedicated to the well-being of their mouth, teeth and gums.

Jennifer Elliott, chief marketing officer for Delta Dental Plans Association, said, "The Delta Dental national survey illuminates that healthy smiles are important to our nation, including impacting Americans' confidence."

Americans are thinking about their future smiles and plenty of adults are worried. Nearly half of adults (48%) in the United States are concerned they will not have an attractive smile as they age, according to the survey.

While a quarter (25%) of Americans are extremely satisfied with the health of their mouth, teeth and gums, only a few (15%) would rate their current oral health as excellent, leaving most American adults with healthy room for improvement.

The Adult's Oral Health & Well-Being Survey was conducted between December 13 and December 28, 2017, among 1,008 nationally representative Americans ages 18-plus.