JAKARTA - In maintaining oral hygiene and health, most people only focus on teeth. In fact, another part that must be very careful is the gums.
Disturbances in the gums are often not noticed, even though they are one of the entrances for germs and bacteria. If it is inflamed, this can cause infections and other diseases throughout the body.
Professor of Periodontology from the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Padjajaran, Prof. Dr. Amaliya, drg, M.Sc, Ph.D, said that one of the signs of gum inflammation that must be watched out for is the bleeding when brushing your teeth.
"When you brush your teeth, you spit or toothpaste, it looks like there is blood. When the teeth brush is bleeding, it is one of the signs that the gums are inflamed or bleeding," said Prof. Amaliya, when met in the Cipete area, Jakarta, on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
Prof Amaliya said that bleeding can be a sign to realize that something bad is happening to the gums. This condition should not be taken lightly.
"So, from there we can already realize it, but sometimes we take it for granted," he added.
Damage to the gums that is left can cause inflammation in the bone supporting the teeth and cause the teeth to fall out. If this has already happened, then the teeth cannot be returned to their original state.
In addition, damage to the gums can also interfere with eating activities and reduce productivity. This is because patients must regularly seek treatment and risk the emergence of other metabolic diseases.
Therefore, it is strongly urged on the public to recognize the signs of inflammation in the gums and immediately overcome it. In addition to bleeding, other signs of gum inflammation are unusually red, smelly, to the gums feeling softer or larger, and itchy.
"Awareness of residents regarding gum health is very lacking. Campaigns, education, promotion, and prevention to maintain gum health before it becomes a disease must be improved," said Prof. Amaliya.
The public is encouraged to have a dental check-up every two years, or every six months. This can help overcome the risk or prevent gum inflammation and avoid other diseases that can occur if the teeth and gums are not healthy.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
