The State of the Tooth: Chicago-Area Residents T...( More than 300 Surveyed on De...),Health

More than 300 Surveyed on Dental Habits

30,000+ Dentists Converge in Chicago February 27-March 1

CHICAGO, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Chicago Dental Society (CDS) recently polled more than 300 Chicago-area residents to find out how the economy is affecting their choices about dental care and learn more about their dental health.

As we countdown to CDS's annual Midwinter Meeting, one of the largest displays of dental products in North America, here are some of the topline findings from the survey.

On the economy's impact on their personal dental care:

• One out of five Chicago-metro residents (22 percent) surveyed say someone in their family has dental needs now but are putting off treatment because they can't afford it.
• 15 percent of those responding said either they or someone in their household have a dental problem and are getting treatment from a dentist.

When asked to rank how healthy they thought their teeth and gums were:

• 27 percent gave themselves an A, noting no dental problems.
• 48 percent said there was room for improvement, noting a few issues they need to take care of.
• 20 percent said they have several issues that need treatment.
• 5 percent said they were currently in pain from their teeth and gums.

How often do they brush and floss?

• 21 percent floss their teeth at least every day.
• 30 percent floss their teeth seldom or never.
• 58 percent brush their teeth at least twice daily.
• 36 percent brush once daily.
• 7 percent brush less than daily.

On the relationship between their diet and oral health:

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