An expert in oral health has recommended a simple product available for around 20p in pharmacies across the country that can reduce your risk of gingivitis.
Gingivitis is a type of gum disease in which the tissue at the base of your teeth becomes inflamed and irritated. It happens when plaque builds up on your teeth, turns into tartar and causes infection.
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. If left untreated, it can lead to periodontitis, which is much more serious and can damage the tissues and bones that support your teeth.
Dr Tien Jiang, assistant professor in oral health at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, suggests using plaque rinses or tablets. You can purchase a pack of 20 tablets from Boots for £2 – coming in at 20p per tablet.
These can be bought over the counter 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. In addition, brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once a day can help to reverse and prevent gingivitis.
Dr Jiang said: “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 gum line or between teeth, in order to avoid gingivitis.”
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 is also recommended by Dr Jiang. The size of your toothbrush can play a key role, she said, as a smaller head is often able to get to harder-to-reach areas more easily.
The NHSstates 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.
Factors that can lead to a higher risk include poor oral care habits, smoking or chewing tobacco, older age, dry mouth, poor nutrition, crooked teeth, and hormonal changes, according to Mayo Clinic. Certain drugs, such as some calcium channel blockers used for angina, high blood pressure, can also increase the likelihood of developing gum disease, as well as medical conditions like certain viral and fungal infections.