COVID a boon for Japan's oral care market

Higher hygiene standards amid pandemic boosts demand for premium toothpaste

20210225 teeth

Better dental hygiene has helped Japanese aged between 65 and 69 keep twice as many teeth as 30 years ago.

NAOFUMI NAKAMURA, Nikkei senior staff writer

TOKYO -- Retail sales across the world have suffered as the coronavirus pandemic shut malls and shoppers tightened their belts in the face of job losses, but sales for one particular item have surged during this time: toothpaste.

Lion, a big Japanese toiletries manufacturer, said a recent market survey showed that the number of consumers who bought toothpaste "for personal use" exceeded those who purchased it "for family use" for the first time in 2020.

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