Oral health refers to the condition of a person’s teeth and gums, as well as the health of the muscles and bones in their mouth. Poor oral health – mainly tooth decay, gum disease and tooth loss – may result in a person experiencing pain, discomfort and feelings of embarrassment. They may also choose to avoid eating some foods and taking part in certain activities. Poor oral health is also associated with a range of diseases and conditions, such as heart and lung diseases, stroke, low birthweight and premature births (DHSV 2011).
Tooth loss can affect both oral function and appearance, and therefore negatively impact on quality of life. Tooth loss can reduce the functionality of the mouth, making chewing and swallowing more challenging, which in turn can compromise nutrition. On average, Australians aged 15 years and over are missing 5.7 teeth. The average number of missing teeth increases with age, from 3.2 for people aged 15–34 years up to 13 for people aged 75 years and over (Do L, Luzzi L 2019). Around 1 in 3 (35%) adults aged 15 years and over report feeling uncomfortable about their dental appearance (Brennan DS, Luzzi L et al 2019).
Poor adult oral health is closely linked to oral health in childhood. While the oral health of Australian children showed significant improvement from the late 1970s – likely due to increased access to fluoridated water, fluoride toothpaste, and preventive dental care – population surveys indicate that childhood oral health remains a concern (Do LG, Luzzi L et al 2016). Around 1 in 4 (27%) children aged 5–10 years and around 1 in 10 (11%) children aged 6–14 years had at least one tooth with untreated decay (Ha DH, Roberts-Thomson KF et al 2016).
Dental visits
A dental visit can provide an opportunity for the provision of preventive dental care to maintain existing oral health, as well as treatment services that may reverse disease or rehabilitate the teeth and gums after damage occurs.
According to the 2023–24 Patient Experience Survey (ABS 2024), around 1 in 2 (53%) adults aged 15 years and over reported visiting a dental professional in the previous 12 months (ABS 2024). People may avoid or delay visiting a dental practitioner for a variety of reasons, including cost, fear or because of difficulties accessing services. Around 3 in 10 (28%) adults aged 15 years and over reported delaying or avoiding dental care when needed, with nearly 2 in 10 (18%) reporting doing so due to cost (ABS 2024). Of those who saw a dental professional, most (89%) reported that the dental professional always showed them respect (ABS 2024).
References
ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) (2024) Patient Experiences, 2023-24, ABS website, accessed 29 September 2025.
Brennan DS, Luzzi L, Ellershaw A and Peres M 2019. Oral health perceptions (pp125–144). In: ARCPOH. Australia’s Oral Health: National Study of Adult Oral Health 2017–18. Adelaide: The University of Adelaide, South Australia
DHSV (Dental Health Services Victoria) 2011. Links between oral health and general health: the case for action
Do LG, Luzzi L, Ha DH, Roberts-Thomson KF, Chrisopoulos S et al 2016. Trends in child oral health in Australia (pp 288–305). In: Do LG & Spencer AJ (eds). Oral health of Australian children: the National Child Oral Health Study 2012–14. Adelaide: University of Adelaide Press
Ha D H, Roberts-Thompson KF, Arrow P, Peres KG & Do LG 2016. Children’s oral health status in Australia, 2012-14. In: Do LG & Spencer AJ (eds). Oral health of Australian children: the National Child Oral Health Study 2012–14. Adelaide: University of Adelaide Press, 86-152.
Lo D, Luzzi L 2019. Oral health status (pp 38–96). In: ARCPOH. Australia’s Oral Health: National Study of Adult Oral Health 2017–18. Adelaide: The University of Adelaide, South Australia
