Abstract
Gingival bleeding (GB) is a common sign of gingival inflammation, which indicates the presence of periodontal diseases. This study aimed to describe the perception of French adults about their self-reported GB and answers of healthcare professionals regarding the GB reported by these interviewees. A questionnaire administered by one investigator in each of three public settings of four cities in France from September 2016 to November 2017. Among 794 adults interviewed, 502 (63.2%) reported a GB. Among them, 414 (82.5%) believed that GB is benign, and 309 (61.6%) declared one or more responses. The three main responses were to use mouthwash (29.3%), to change to a soft-bristle toothbrush (20.1%) and to modify the brushing technique (19.3%). Almost half (49.0%) questioned at least one healthcare professional concerning their GB: a dentist (43.0%), a physician (14.1%), and a pharmacist (8.0%). The main response of each healthcare professional was: for dentists: a “prescription of mouthwash”, for physicians to say “gingival bleeding is not serious”; and for pharmacists: “to sell a mouthwash”. Most of the participants considered their GB as benign and had inappropriate responses, which indicates their lack of knowledge regarding periodontal health. The same conclusions can be drawn for healthcare professionals, as reported by interviewees.
Highlights
Gingival bleeding (GB) is the most identifiable sign of gingivitis
Data were collected between September 2016 and November 2017 with a questionnaire administered by four investigators calibrated by their local chief academic
Even if the clinical examination of periodontal parameters remains the gold standard for the prevention and/or management of periodontal diseases, the self-report could be an interesting inexpensive, less time and less resource-consuming alternative which could facilitate epidemiologic studies on a much larger scale, and reflect the patient’s perception of their own oral health status [22]
Summary
This study aimed to describe the perception of French adults about their self-reported GB and answers of healthcare professionals regarding the GB reported by these interviewees. The main objective of this study was to describe the perception, attitude, and oral health practices among a representative sample of French dentate adults who self-reported GB
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