Oral care tops list of favored personal care regimens
May 12, 2005
In a new survey of 1,000 Americans, a majority of respondents (51%) said that they would choose to use mouthwash over a hairbrush, hair gel or lipstick before an important interview or date. In fact, 77% of Americans agreed that oral health care is extremely important.
If that isn't proof enough that good oral hygiene ranks high on Americans' list of beauty "dos," survey participants cited bad breath (99%), stained teeth (93%), unhealthy gums (93%) and missing teeth (92%) as "turn offs." Perhaps not surprisingly, the majority of these consumers (65%) said they are always looking for new tips/products that can help them improve their oral care routines.
Although improving oral health and appearance is important to Americans - 52% of survey participants said that they would like to improve something about the way their mouth looked - eight in 10 participants spend less than five minutes choosing oral care products.
"Good oral hygiene is so important to Americans and yet many people don't take the time to consider how the products they use - or don't use - can impact their overall appearance and oral health," says beauty expert and consumer advocate Paula Begoun. "For the best results, consumers should not only read product labels for directions and usage guidelines, but also understand the effects that ingredients in personal care items may have on maintaining a healthy and beautiful smile."
For example, CPC (Cetylpyridinium Chloride), a common ingredient found in several over-the-counter mouthwashes may cause tooth staining and may even lose effectiveness when used immediately after tooth brushing. "To avoid these risks and get the most proven and effective results," says Begoun, "people should use a mouthwash such as Listerine Antiseptic, which has been clinically proven to kill germs, help prevent and reduce plaque and gingivitis and control bad breath. Listerine Antiseptic is a great addition to your oral care routine to ensure a healthy mouth." Listerine Antiseptic does not contain CPC.