Cost and Social Media Drive Young Australians to Delay Dental Care
A new national survey from the Australian Dental Association (ADA) has shed light on why many Australians, particularly young adults, are putting off dental care. The findings, released today, show that more than 2 million Australians have skipped dental visits because they cannot afford them, and that a majority of young adults are turning to social media for dental health advice.
The ADA survey found that 60 per cent of adults aged 18 to 25 are making decisions about managing their dental health based on content from social media platforms. ADA vice president Angie Nilsson said this includes seeking cosmetic procedures like veneers and aligners, as well as ordering whitening products that may not be safe.
"It's not something that we recommend doing without a registered dental practitioner advising and ensuring that they're getting the right product, the right concentration and that it is actually in line with all the Australian regulations that we have to keep people safe," Dr Nilsson said.
University student Ava Veres, a business and drama student in Brisbane, said she has seen "whitening hacks" and ads for whitening strips online, and that some of her friends have considered buying them. She also said she has been experiencing pain from her wisdom teeth but cannot afford to see a dentist.
"I have been dreading even looking at that because it's just not really on the cards for me," she said. Now living in a share house, she noted that expenses are on her now, making dental care less of a priority.
The survey also found that 60 per cent of adults aged 18 to 25 have had wisdom tooth-related issues, including pain, swelling, crowding, infection, and discomfort. The rate was higher in remote areas, where 65 per cent of respondents reported such problems, compared with 59 per cent in metropolitan areas.
Dr Nilsson said she fears young people are undergoing risky, quick fixes to their dental issues, describing the situation as a "concerning combination" of untreated dental problems, pressure from social media, and preventable sports injuries.
One young Australian, Emily Novo, a Sydney student, shared her experience of a wisdom tooth infection that left her unable to open her mouth for a week. She said she had put off going to the dentist because of the cost, but after the incident—which required a visit to a hospital emergency department—she realised she should have prioritised her dental hygiene.
"I couldn't even open it enough to brush my teeth, let alone eat a piece of toast," Ms Novo said. "I was mortified, [I felt] just absolute pure panic."
She said she generally had good oral health, but the issue stemmed from bacteria getting into the cavity between her wisdom tooth and gum. After being sent home with antibiotics, she spent a week eating soup and unable to talk properly.
"You don't really realise how important your mouth is until you've lost the ability to talk and eat," she said.
The ADA's findings highlight the broader consequences of cost-related delays. Dr Nilsson said the survey's result—that over 2 million Australians have skipped dental care due to unaffordability—has resulted in widespread tooth decay.
The Australian Greens have renewed their push for dental care to be included in the publicly funded Medicare system, arguing that oral health should be treated as part of overall health. The federal government has delayed the release of the National Oral Health Plan, which was originally due to be put to a health ministers' meeting in 2024.
As the debate over dental funding continues, the experiences of young Australians like Ms Novo and Ms Veres underscore the real-world impact of cost barriers and the growing influence of social media on health decisions.