HEALTH NOTES: Too lazy to brush teeth properly 

More than half of Britons don’t brush their teeth for two minutes, twice a day, research shows.

According to technology company Philips, in a survey of 2,000 people, about 55 percent said they were too lazy or didn’t think two minutes were necessary. Experts say that brushing for two minutes in the morning and evening is the most effective way to remove plaque without damaging the gums.

Dentist Dr Rhona Eskander said: ‘My advice is to get guidance from trusted practitioners and use an electric toothbrush. Keep it simple.’

Mothers miss abdominal surgery

British women are being unfairly denied vital surgery to repair stomach damage caused by pregnancy, experts warn.

About a third of new mothers suffer from a condition called diastasis recti, in which the muscles that stretch from the abdomen to the pelvis separate during pregnancy and never come together again. This can cause severe pain and incontinence.

Surgery to tighten the muscles, called a tummy tuck, is an effective treatment but not currently available on the NHS. Instead, women are offered physical therapy, which the researchers say often does not provide lasting relief.

The research was presented at the annual conference of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Study author Dr Siobhan Fitzpatrick said: ‘This condition can be treated effectively, so why not?’

British teenagers are at greater risk of contracting fatal meningitis if they don’t get the vaccine.

Official data shows that uptake of the jab, which protects against four strains of bacteria that cause the disease, is at its lowest in six years – likely due to the pandemic. Last year, 69 percent of 14- and 15-year-olds had the vaccine, compared to 76 percent in 2021 and 88 percent in 2018. Cases of the condition doubled between 2020 and 2022, according to the charity Meningitis Now.

“Many who missed it have already caught up, but those who need the vaccine should contact their school nurse, school immunization team or GP practice to arrange catch-up,” said Dr Vanessa Saliba, epidemiologist consultant at the British Health Security Agency.

British teenagers are at greater risk of contracting fatal meningitis if they don’t get the vaccine

According to one poll, less than five percent of women could recognize the signs of cervical cancer.

The survey, carried out by the charity Eve Appeal, also found that only seven per cent of the 2,000 women surveyed had ‘good knowledge’ of the signs of intimate cancers – ovarian, vulval and vaginal cancer. Dr. Naomi Sutton, a sexual health consultant, said: ‘Education has to start when we are young. This helps to combat the embarrassment some may feel when a gynecological problem is diagnosed.”

Signs of intimate cancers include irregular bleeding, bloating, and pain in the abdomen or during sex.