A nationally representative US poll of 1,801 parents found that more than one in three children aged 4 to 17 experienced tooth decay, cavities, stained teeth, gum concerns, or tooth pain over a two-year period, with problems occurring more often among children who followed oral hygiene recommendations inconsistently or not at all. The poll, conducted in August 2024 by the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, found that only 64% of children brush twice daily and fewer than 25% floss regularly. Just one in five children consistently performed at least four of the six recommended oral hygiene tasks most days.

Children who followed fewer hygiene practices were more likely to report oral health problems. Bad breath was noted by over a third of parents, with incidence higher among children who followed only one or no hygiene practices regularly.

For dental professionals, the data reinforces the role of the biannual check-up: 11% of parents reported their child had not seen a dentist in over a year, and those children were also less likely to follow hygiene routines at home. The authors note that dentists are well placed to deliver targeted guidance, including preventive treatments such as sealants and fluoride varnish, to address individual risk profiles in younger patients.