2026
9
UK Oral Care Market Report 2026
2026-06-19T08:02:15+00:00
REPDB3C6AF2_DAC3_4B66_BC6A_F2DAC33B664D
2195
194207
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Report
en_GB
The UK oral care market is moderating as the effects of price inflation diminish. Limited access to NHS dental care is encouraging self-led prevention and driving demand for targeted products.
UK
Oral Care
simple

UK Oral Care Market Report 2026

The UK oral care market is moderating as the effects of price inflation diminish. Limited access to NHS dental care is encouraging self-led prevention and driving demand for targeted products.

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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for oral care market
    • Opportunities
    • Encourage expansion through guided sets
    • Narrow the say-do gap in oral microbiome with tangible benefits
    • Leverage tech to shift floss engagement
    • Discover the top four trend territories for success in UK oral care using Black Swan’s social prediction technology
  2. THE MARKET

    • Snapshot – market size and forecast
    • Consumer confidence will dent oral care sales
    • Graph 1: the financial confidence index, 2017-25
    • Limited access to dental care encourages at-home experimentation
    • Dietary priorities will impact future oral care needs
    • Vaping and e-cigarette use will contribute to oral health issues
    • Graph 2: current cigarette smokers, those who have quit smoking, and current e-cigarette users, 1974-2024
    • GLP-1 usage will open up new space for oral care
    • Market growth slows as inflation eases
    • Market size and forecast
    • Market size and forecast of oral care
    • Graph 3: [no title]
    • Small wins achieved bigger growth
    • Oral care brands can engage more in the accessory segment
    • Graph 4: retail value sales share of dental accessories, by select brand, 2023-26
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • Flossing gap presents a blank space to engage
    • Capitalise on the floss usage gains
    • Graph 5: usage of select oral care products in the last three months, 2024 vs 2026
    • Convenience drives certain floss uptick
    • Pivot messaging from clinical to experience for floss
    • Partner with professionals to help break down flossing myths
    • Tech can make inroads in oral care via time and effort save
    • Integrate oral issue detection into daily routine
    • Leverage more usage occasions to enhance habit-building
    • Beautification of oral care redefines dental hygiene
    • Teeth-whitening remains core to the smile economy
    • A resurgence of teeth whitening driven by younger consumers
    • Bring aesthetics from special occasions to daily pursuit
    • Integrate whitening routines with oral health considerations
    • Innovate with dental cosmetic-compatible oral care products
    • Graph 6: agreement with “I have had cosmetic dental work done (eg teeth-straightening, teeth-whitening)”, by select generations, 2026
    • BPC-inspired formats garner premiumisation interests
    • Use beauty-led oral care systems to build loyalty and expand beyond premium consumers
    • Expand oral care value by integrating wellness, credibility, and experiential features
    • Build on oral health solutions to drive further engagement
    • Trust garnered in targeted, professional-backed solutions
    • Strengthen reach in the ingredient era
    • Curate BFY choices to balance out indulgence concerns
  4. PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING

    • More room for disruption remains for natural oral care innovations
    • Sensitivity in focus, but needs balance among sub-categories
    • Graph 7: oral hygiene launches with a ‘for sensitive teeth/gums’ claim, 2021-26
    • Masstige dominates, while premium features sensorial elements
    • Starter packs tap into sustainability with refills
    • Category expansion points to new adjacencies
    • Colgate relates to real-life moments to resonate
    • Visualise outcomes could aid breaking down usage barrier
    • Marketing with a number that consumers can remember
  5. APPENDIX

    • Market definition
    • The market
    • Forecast methodology
    • Forecast methodology – fan chart
    • Market size and forecast of oral care products
    • Market forecast and prediction intervals
    • Market size of oral care, by segment
    • Market share of oral care – toothbrush
    • Market share of oral care – toothpaste
    • Market share of oral care – mouthwash
    • Market share of oral care – dental accessories
    • Market share of oral care – denture
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Repertoire analysis methodology
    • TURF methodology
    • How to read: TURF analysis
    • UK generation groups
    • Other data source methodologies
    • Mintel Spark
    • Abbreviations
Download Report Summary

"Frame oral care as routine-based wellness habit, supported by new microbiome-focused claims that connect oral care to broader health outcomes."

Ziyu Tian, OTC & Personal Care Research Analyst

Ziyu Tian, OTC & Personal Care Research Analyst

UK Oral Care Industry – Trends and Insights

  • The UK oral care market is moderating as the effects of price inflation diminish. Limited access to NHS dental care is encouraging self-led prevention and driving demand for targeted products. The fastest-growing segment in 2025 is dental accessories and floss, rising 7.7% as consumers embrace convenience and build more comprehensive routines.
  • Cautious spending could curb everyday oral care usage, especially mouthwash and dental ancillaries. Addressing barriers to floss usage will start with recognising where said barriers stem from, while improving the convenience profile of the process to drive engagement. This focus on convenience is crucial, especially when looking at the gap between what people know and what they do.
  • While 67% of users recognise oral microbiome impacts their overall wellness, only 8% actively prioritise it in their routines. This disconnect will reshape product messaging, elevating oral care from basic hygiene to holistic wellbeing.
  • The opportunity for brands lies in framing oral health as part of daily wellness, supported by new microbiome-focused claims and ingredient-led innovation that connect oral care to broader health outcomes.

This Report Looks at the Following Areas:

  • Retail sales of the oral care market by segment and brand shares in 2025
  • Market factors driving/jeopardising the long-term development of the oral care market
  • Types and repertoire of oral care products consumers have used in the last three months
  • Barriers to flossing and opportunities areas brands can tap into
  • Oral health as a priority for consumers in oral care
  • Product features that could persuade consumers to experiment with a product they haven’t used before
  • Oral care routine as part of the beauty routine beyond teeth-whitening

Market Definitions

For the purposes of this Report, Mintel has used the following definitions:

  • Toothbrushes – standard manual, electric (rechargeable), battery-powered (non-rechargeable), replacement toothbrush heads, travel brushes and combined toothbrush/tongue scrapers.
  • Toothpaste – including pastes, gels, polish and powder formats.
  • Mouthwash/rinse – primarily for the maintenance of dental and oral hygiene, including medicated and non-medicated.
  • Denture products – cleaners and fixatives and cleaners for orthodontic appliances.

Dental accessories/ancillaries – includes cosmetic whitening products, eg gels, fresh breath dental chewing gum (ie Colgate Whitening Dental Gum) with product licences for the treatment and maintenance of oral hygiene, tongue scrapers, fresh breath strips and other breath fresheners, dental floss/tape, interdental sticks and brushes, disclosing tablets.

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