Nearly Half of Austrians Brush Their Teeth Too Rarely and Too Briefly, Survey Finds

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A significant share of Austria’s population is neglecting basic oral‑hygiene habits, according to a new Marketagent survey conducted for Oral‑B. While dentists recommend brushing twice a day for at least two minutes, only just over half of Austrians follow this guideline. Forty‑five percent brush their teeth too infrequently or for too short a time, and 14 percent admit they sometimes forget to brush altogether. The survey highlights that Gen Z and single parents are particularly prone to skipping this daily routine.

Toothbrush Replacement Also Overlooked

Dental professionals advise replacing a toothbrush or electric brush head every two to three months to maintain effective cleaning. Yet only 58 percent of respondents do so regularly. Women tend to be more diligent in replacing their brushes, while men lag behind.

What Matters Most When Brushing

For most people, preventing health issues remains the top priority:

73 percent aim to avoid cavities
63 percent focus on preventing gum problems
57 percent value fresh breath
55 percent want clean, smooth teeth

Aesthetic concerns rank lower overall, though generational differences are striking. Nearly half of Gen Z considers white teeth important, compared with only 22 percent of Baby Boomers.

Electric vs. Manual Brushing

About half of Austria’s population uses electric toothbrushes. Gender differences are notable: 44 percent of women still prefer manual brushing, while 51 percent of men already rely on electric devices.

Knowledge Gap in Oral Health

Despite widespread awareness of the importance of healthy teeth—nearly three‑quarters of respondents say oral health is essential to their overall well‑being—many lack understanding of its broader health implications. Three in ten Austrians do not know that poor oral health can affect the entire body.

Generational and regional disparities are clear:

78 percent of Baby Boomers understand the link between oral and general health
Only 58 percent of Gen Z does
In Upper Austria, 75 percent are aware of the connection
In Vienna, the figure drops to 62 percent

Children’s Dental Care Still Undervalued

One in five Austrians does not consider children’s dental care particularly important, despite its role in establishing lifelong oral‑health habits. Only slightly more than half of parents regularly check whether their children are brushing correctly, and just 63 percent take them to routine dental check‑ups. Twenty percent of parents say motivating their children to brush remains a challenge.