Dental Health Week 2024 #1: Bleeding gums are a red flag

Around half of all Australian adults don't place any importance on gum health, according to new data released by the ADA, placing them at risk of serious health conditions.

Survey results released ahead of Dental Health Week (5-11 August), the ADA’s oral health awareness campaign, uncovers some revealing insights into why Australians’ oral health is not where it should be - and the need for people to boost their oral health practices to keep gum disease, tooth decay and serious whole-of-body health conditions away.

Gums are the forgotten foundations of our mouths, with just over half (53%) of the 25,000 people polled for the peak dental body’s annual Consumer Survey thinking that looking after their teeth is more important than looking after their gums. Only 28% said gums and teeth were equally important, and 19% said gums are more important. Meanwhile 25% of respondents also reported that ‘how to look after their gums’ is not something they think about.

While cleaning between the teeth is pivotal to oral health as brushing the teeth only cleans about 60% of tooth surfaces (with cleaning in between taking care of the other 40%), the survey found that a shocking 74% rarely or never floss. Only 21% clean between their teeth daily which is what’s recommended by dentists.

“This means those 74% of Aussie adults may be putting their mouths on a fast track to bleeding gums which often indicates gum disease and are a red flag,” said Dr Mikaela Chinotti, the ADA’s Oral Health Promoter. “Yet that’s what a sizeable proportion of our population is risking every day.

“Together with risk factors including smoking, increased age and health conditions like diabetes, more and more Aussies have developed severe gum disease, known as periodontitis, over the years.

“These findings go some way to explaining why one in four Australians have inflammation of the gums and one in three have moderate to severe periodontitis. (1)

“Together with jawbone and ligaments, the gums form the foundations that keep teeth in place. With severe gum disease, these elements are damaged, affecting how the teeth stay in place. Unfortunately, gums are the forgotten foundations of the mouth and plenty of people are not giving them a second thought.”

Dr Chinotti added: “Countless scientific studies show neglected oral health can either precipitate or worsen another health condition with robust evidence linking periodontal disease and cardiovascular conditions, Type 2 diabetes and inflammatory bowel conditions.” (2)

For example, severe gum disease is a significant risk factor impacting the development and outcomes of Type 2 diabetes. “These serious health conditions can be in some instances be improved if people look after their mouths,” she said.

“That means brushing twice a day with a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste, flossing daily, eating a diet low in sugar and seeing your dentist regularly for check-ups, the four key messages of Dental Health Week.

“And if bleeding gums don’t subside with regular good oral hygiene practices, then see a dentist to investigate further because healthy gums don’t bleed.”

Other interesting oral health findings:

• Of those 1 in 4 who do clean in between, 28% use either floss, an interdental brush or a water flosser; another 27% only brush “to make sure they reach the gums” while 10% see a dentist for a professional clean and 9% use mouthwash.
• Around half (55%) brush their teeth twice a day, 28% 3 or more times a day and 17% once a day.
• 38% use an electric toothbrush and 62% a manual one.
• 19% clean their tongue.

References  

1. Do L, Luzzi L 2019. 4.3 Gum Diseases. Pages 74 and 88. In: ARCPOH. Australia’s Oral Health: National Study of Adult Oral Health 2017–18. Adelaide: The University of Adelaide, South Australia.
2. FDI World Dental Federation, Whole Body Health Diagram. Available at: Whole Body Health | FDI World Dental Federation.