"Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammation in the tissues that surround the tooth, and the increase in inflammation factors may be associated with the aggravation of several pathologies", said to Lusa the president of the Portuguese Society of Periodontology and Implants (SPPI), Cristina Trigo Cabral.

The expert also said that, currently, there is scientific evidence that diabetes may worsen, with the patient "not being able to control their glucose so well due to this inflammation".

"On the other hand, the imbalance of diabetes also worsens periodontal disease", she added, also giving the example of existing studies on the association of chronic inflammation of the gums with cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's, low birth weight and premature birth.

Within the scope of Periodontal Health Day, which is celebrated on May 12, the SPPI will promote street actions today in Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra, where dentists will offer oral hygiene 'kits' to the population, raising awareness of the importance of gum disease (periodontitis), which affects half of adults.

The European Federation of Periodontology has also launched a campaign aimed at family doctors so that they "help dentists by alerting the population to the importance of having periodontal health".

Cristina Trigo Cabral stresses the importance of going to the dentist regularly -- "and not only when the tooth hurts" -- so that they can "remove the tartar and plaque that is under the gum and around the tooth".

"After this treatment, (...) the patient must maintain oral hygiene habits such as brushing their teeth, using dental floss and auxiliary brushing means, such as the interdental brush" to effectively remove bacterial plaque, she stressed.

The expert acknowledges that most of the population does not value the fact that blood appears in the sink after brushing their teeth, warning: "This is a sign of illness, not health".

"You cannot bleed from the gums, this is one of the first signs of periodontal disease, before the movement of the patients, bad breath, swollen and fleshless gums", explained the president of the SPPI, regretting that, often, the population only seeks the doctor "when blood appears on the pillow".

The expert also stresses the need for better access to dentists, especially for the elderly and less favoured population.

She recalls that dentistry "has evolved so that people keep their natural teeth for longer" and insists on disease prevention, stressing: "prevention is the key factor".

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