Colgate-Palmolive has released new research as part of its second national report into Australia’s cavity issue, in conjunction with the launch of its new formula Maximum Cavity Protection toothpaste.
The study, which surveyed Australian parents with children aged 6-12, found that 70% of parents and nearly half (45%) of their children have suffered from tooth decay, with one in five (20%) of these children experiencing symptoms of the disease in the last 12 months.
Dental caries (tooth decay) is the most common oral disease and among the most prevalent health conditions in Australian children. Colgate’s new Maximum Cavity Protection toothpaste has been designed to help fight tooth decay by neutralising sugar acids and providing 4x enamel protection.
Dental health is one of the top concerns for Australian parents with children aged 6-12. In fact, more than two in five (40%) of parents surveyed said they are worried about the health of their children’s teeth, and more than half (55%) admitted they need more support and guidance when it comes to instilling good oral health habits.
The research revealed that 41% of parents surveyed cite brushing their children’s teeth as a parenting pain point, with nearly half of children in the 6-12 age group not brushing their teeth for the recommended two minutes per session (43%) and nearly 18% only brushing their teeth once a day.
Of the 78% of parents who said they face challenges when it comes to brushing their children’s teeth, the need for supervision (48%), the morning rush (39%) and kids wanting to eat after brushing their teeth (31%) were cited as the most common barriers to brushing.
Dr Susan Cartwright, Scientific Affairs Manager, Colgate Oral Care says: “Tooth decay is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in children. It is even more common than asthma, which many parents may find surprising. In Australia, one quarter of children between the ages of 5 and 10 years have untreated tooth decay.”
“Our new formula toothpaste, with arginine and fluoride technology, has taken eight years of clinical research to perfect. Studies show that this toothpaste can provide up to 50% reduction in the signs of early tooth decay. It’s important to get in the habit of good oral care early in life as if left untreated, tooth decay can lead to serious health issues such as infection and loss of teeth,” Dr Cartwright said.
Demystifying Cavities
The research also revealed that misconceptions around the cause of tooth decay are prominent amongst Aussie parents, with 45% assuming overconsumption of sugary food and drinks are the key culprits, and one in five (22%) believing that cavities happen to everyone.
“It’s common for people to think that it is large quantities of sugary foods and drinks that cause cavities, but frequent snacking also contributes to kids developing dental decay. Cavities are almost entirely preventable, with a good diet, a twice daily brushing routine with the right toothpaste and regular visits to your dental professional. Cavities don’t happen to everyone, and they shouldn’t,” Dr Cartwright said.
Another common misconception uncovered through the study includes the notion that tooth decay in children with baby teeth is less of an issue than when they have adult teeth, with one in five (23%) parents surveyed believing this.
Dr Cartwright explains, “If you have dental decay, you have a disease process in your mouth that needs to be addressed. If you have this happening as a young child and habits are not corrected, it is likely to continue into adulthood. Therefore, having decay in baby teeth is something that requires attention.”
Parents with children aged 6-12 who face challenges when brushing their children’s teeth cited the following challenges around instilling a healthy brushing routine with their kids:
- Supervision: Most common challenge faced is children need supervision and/or help while brushing their teeth (48%)
- Morning rush: Getting ready in the morning is always such a rush that they never have time to brush their teeth (39%)
- Eating before bed: Children always want to eat something before bedtime/after they brush their teeth (31%)
- Sitting still: One in five say their children don’t sit still/get fidgety/wiggle around (21%)
- Falling asleep: 20% say their children fall asleep before they have the chance to brush their teeth
Setting a Good Example
But it’s not just children that are sometimes lacking in the oral care department. Half (51%) of the parents surveyed say they forget to brush their own teeth before bed, more than two in five (44%) forget to brush in the morning, and 35% say they don’t brush their teeth for the recommended two minutes.
The guilt and repercussions of bad oral health habits weighs heavily amongst parents, with seven in ten (71%) saying they wish they had taken better care of their teeth when they were younger and 70% admitting they could be setting a better example to their children when it comes to oral care habits.
Colgate is working towards a cavity free future as they believe that everyone deserves a future they can smile about.
“It’s up to us as adults to ensure we are setting an example for our kids and teaching them to use the correct amount of toothpaste, brushing for two minutes, and brushing twice a day,” Dr Cartwright said.
The new Maximum Cavity Protection toothpaste range will be packaged in Colgate’s recyclable toothpaste tube, meaning Australians can recycle their tube by following their local council guidelines for recycling HDPE 2 plastic, teaching young Australians the benefits of recycling from an early age.
The new Colgate® Maximum Cavity Protection toothpaste range is available in all major supermarkets across Australia & on Amazon online from September 2021, in five sizes and two variants from $2.40 RRP. The toothpaste is suitable for children over 6 years old.
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