Today, on World Health Day, EditieNL will pay attention to a striking study on oral health in the Netherlands at 18:15. The Dental Health Barometer – a study by Haleon and the Ivoren Kruis – shows that one in five Dutch people do not brush their teeth daily. A worrying outcome, says em. prof. Albert Feilzer, chairman of the Ivory Cross.

“Teeth are actually diseased in themselves and need to be well maintained,” according to Feilzer.
“Promoting oral health is central to dental care professionals. There is still much to be gained here, for example through fixed routines such as brushing twice a day for two minutes and regular visits to the dentist. Dental care professionals play an important role in supporting these routines, including through good information.”

Daily care is inadequate

Although the advice is clear – brush twice a day, use the brush daily, and maintain healthy lifestyle habits – the behavior of many Dutch people leaves much to be desired:

• 17% does not brush teeth daily

• 54% does not follow the advice of brushing twice a day for two minutes

• Only 12% of the patients speaks with the dental care professional about lifestyle such as smoking or alcohol consumption

Feilzer emphasizes that education of dental professionals is an important weapon in improving oral health. In addition, awareness of the importance of a healthy mouth is crucial, not only for the teeth, but also in relation to broader health problems such as dementia.

Barriers: Money, Time and Fear

In addition to behavior, practical barriers also play a role. Only 58% of Dutch people have supplementary dental insurance, and many avoid visiting the dentist because of the cost. In addition, fear of pain and a lack of time often cited as a reason for skipping checks.

The sense of urgency is low, especially among young people: half of 18 to 24 year olds avoid the dentist because they do not experience any complaints, and one in five simply doesn't make time for it.

More information

For an extensive article on this topic, please visit the Metro website: So many Dutch people do not brush their teeth every day.

In addition, tonight (April 7, 2025) at 6:15 p.m. EditionNL more about this research and the explanation of chairman Albert Feilzer.