OnePoll surveyed 2000 young Americans on behalf of Pronamel. Researchers asked Millennial and Gen Z respondents about the self-care routines they had developed during the pandemic. Out of every four respondents, 3 of them said they were finally prioritising their needs over others. Another 70% said they had learned to ignore more minor issues.

Young Americans believe self-care routines are a way to invest in their health

Researchers analysed the self-care routine for Americans under 40. They found that 9 in 10 participants had developed a daily routine that took approximately one hour. Most had a six-step habit that focussed on endorphin boosting activities like yoga, exercise and meditation. Other activities included reading and enjoying a glass of wine.

Of 10 respondents, 7 believed that self-care routines were an investment in their health. Participants gave reasons for having a daily self-care routine as a way to boost self-esteem (45%) and health (49%).

Out of 10 respondents, seven said they’d decided in the past year to put their health above everything else. A majority (64%) believed their oral health was vital, and 66% agreed that visiting a dentist was included in their self-care routine.

Americans admitted to having blind spots in self-care routines

Even with self-care routines in place, participants admitted to having some blind spots. For instance, 48% said they didn’t focus on the health of their hearts, 46% didn’t have healthy sleep patterns, and 26% felt they needed to have a balanced diet. Although many participants care for their oral health, 34% thought that this was a blind spot that could use more improvement.

The American Dental Association believe that oral care is essential. Taking time on at-home oral care is necessary to prevent oral disease.

Monica Biga, a GSK oral expert, says that it is crucial to have an oral care routine. Bacteria in your mouth could find their way to your bloodstream, which could lead to many health complications such as cancer, prematurely delivery for pregnant women or a stroke 

A large portion of the participants (63%) thought their routine was surface-level, having no impact on their health.