Colgate study reveals oral care habits of diverse communities

NEW YORK -- Diverse communities have a stronger sense of responsibility when addressing oral health issues, according to a new study from Colgate.

The brand revealed results from a national oral health care survey of more than 3,000 multicultural Americans, specifically Hispanics, African-Americans, Asian Americans and Native Americans.

The survey sourced questions from leading dental associations including the American Dental Association, Hispanic Dental Association, and the National Dental Association, which promotes oral health equity among people of color. Results revealed that diverse communities have a stronger sense of responsibility when addressing oral health issues, reporting more frequent brushing, flossing and mouthwash use than the overall U.S population. In spite of reportedly excellent at-home oral health care, however, multicultural Americans still experience higher rates of overall oral health issues such as cavities, plaque build-up or bleeding gums.

While these groups lead in conscientiousness around oral health and self-reported having "good" and "excellent" oral health, disparities remain in these multicultural communities, which may be due to access to care issues such as language barriers or lack of dental insurance and a lack of information around best practices and habits.

Below are some of the key findings from the Colgate multicultural oral care survey:

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  On average, 80% of the multicultural Americans report brushing their teeth 2-3 times per day, compared to 75% of the general U.S. population


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  Nearly two-thirds of all multicultural Americans don't visit an oral health professional regularly, as recommended, even if they are aware of the recommendation


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  Most multicultural groups surveyed have experienced at least one oral health problem in the past six months including cavities, yellow or stained teeth, plaque buildup or bleeding gums

According to the survey, most multicultural Americans report that they are taking their oral health more seriously today to avoid problems, all with a common goal to invest more time into the health of their teeth and gums.

"We know that a little information can go quite a long way, particularly in this fast-paced world we all live in," said Dr. Marsha Butler, Vice President of Global Oral Health and Professional Relations. "Colgate is committed to providing accurate, relevant information to all Americans so that current and future generations can enjoy excellent oral health."

In an ongoing effort to close the information gap and promote better oral health among all Americans, Colgate not only partners with leading dental organizations, but also shares this message through partnerships with community events, relevant spokespersons and media partners.

One key effort is the Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Futures program, which brings education and smiles to under-served children in the U.S. and worldwide with nine state-of-the art, mobile dental vans equipped to screen children for common oral health conditions. The dental vans are based in hub-cities and travel to under-served rural and urban communities in the U.S. to help raise awareness about the importance of children's dental health. With this program, Colgate has reached more than 100 million children in the United States.