Smile Month report reveals Brits skipping brushing and self-diagnosing with AI

Brits are putting their oral health at risk through poor dental habits, with many choosing to ignore warning signs, skip brushing routines and even seek advice from Google and AI rather than dental professionals.

To mark Smile Month, a new report by the Oral Health Foundation highlights that almost four in ten people (39%) admit they have fallen asleep without brushing their teeth in the past year, while a third (32%) say they have skipped brushing before bed altogether. Meanwhile, nearly a quarter (24%) have ignored tooth pain in the hope it would simply go away.

The findings suggest many people continue to overlook symptoms that could indicate more serious problems. More than a third (35%) have experienced bleeding gums in the past 12 months, yet 14% admit they regularly ignore bleeding if it stops on its own. Four in ten (41%) have suffered from sensitive teeth, while one in five (20%) have experienced toothache and 18% report experiencing tooth decay.

Aston spoke to dentist & trustee at Oral Health Foundation Ben Atkins.