Prevention of periodontal disease in the mixed dentition.

It seems that gingivitis is rare in the primary dentition but reaches a high prevalence by the early teens. The actual onset of gingival inflammation thus occurs in primary school children, i.e. during the time period of the mixed dentition. Analyses of high risk groups clearly indicate that they already exist at primary school level, and also, that children belonging to the high-gingivitis group seldom belong to the high-caries group at the same time. Without exception, interview studies seem to indicate a general ignorance of the symptoms as well as of the possibilities or even the need for treatment of early periodontal disease. In order to improve the attitudes among the general public to periodontal health care, a campaign should be initiated with the aim of making it perfectly clear to everyone, starting at the age of primary school children, that bleeding from the gums while brushing the teeth is undesirable, easily cures and preventable.