Gum disease symptoms include red, sensitive or swollen gums (Image: Getty)
Oral health experts have revealed that a simple 20p product available over the counter could be key in reducing your risk of gum disease.
Gingivitis is a type of gum disease in which the tissue at the base of your teeth becomes inflamed, red, and irritated. If left untreated, it can lead to periodontitis, which is much more serious and can damage the tissues and bones that support your teeth.
It happens when plaque builds up on your teeth, turns into tartar and causes infection.
Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once a day can help to reverse and prevent gingivitis. Dr Tien Jiang, assistant professor in oral health at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, also suggests using plaque rinses or tablets.
These can be bought from pharmacies and work by sticking to plaque and turning it a bright colour – which allows you to identify areas where plaque is building up to aid your brushing. You can purchase a pack of 10 tablets from Boots for £2 – or 20p per tablet.
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Dr Jiang : “Most people do a good job removing plaque from the smooth or chewing surfaces of their teeth. But you need to pay attention to other places where plaque sticks, such as the gumline or between teeth, in order to avoid gingivitis.”
She recommended brushing in front of a mirror in a bathroom with good lighting, and pulling back your lips to look for plaque at the gum line. The size of your toothbrush can also play a key role – often a smaller head can get to harder-to-reach areas more easily.
As gum disease progresses, symptoms include red, sensitive or swollen gums, gums that bleed when you brush or floss your teeth, bad breath, and mouth sores.
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Gingivitis is common but there are factors that can increase your risk. These include poor oral care habits, smoking or chewing tobacco, older age, dry mouth, poor nutrition, crooked teeth, and hormonal changes.
Certain drugs, such as some calcium channel blockers used for angina, high blood pressure, can also lead to a higher risk of gum disease, to Mayo Clinic, as well as medical conditions like certain viral and fungal infections.
The NHS that while gingivitis is “very common”, it is important to get it checked by a dentist. It advises people to go to a dentist if their gums are bleeding when they brush their teeth or eat hard food and their gums are swollen and painful.