So how well do you take care of your teeth? Chances are if you're a woman, you're doing OK. Men, you need to improve. The survey of 1,000 U.S. adults found that 86 percent of women brush their teeth two times or more a day, but only 66 percent of men do the same. The pollsters also found that women change their toothbrush or power toothbrush head every three to four months on average, yet men hang on to theirs an average of five months. The ADA recommends replacing toothbrushes every three to four months or when the bristles become frayed, since frayed and worn bristles decrease cleaning effectiveness.
Find out how brushing your teeth could save your life. Really!
We all need to do a better job of flossing. Only half of those surveyed (49 percent) say they floss their teeth once a day or more often. And one out of three people surveyed think a little blood in the sink after brushing their teeth is normal, yet it's not--it could signal gum disease or another health problem.
