care - to gauge their level of awareness and desire for dental health benefits.

A total of 337 respondents took part in the survey. About 45 per cent were workers - mainly blue-collar workers primarily in the 21-30 age group.

Those who said they did not visit a dentist regularly were asked for the reasons.

Assistant manager Charles Vincent, 35, who has not visited a dentist in two years, gave the typical response: 'I just didn't feel the urgency.'

But when he finally visited dentist Dr Asha Karunakaran, his gums had already retracted - a late sign of gum disease.

'It is not true that when there is no pain, there is no need to visit a dentist,' said Dr Asha, one of the founding members of the SDHF.

Even if there is no pain, a person could be suffering from gum disease - an infection that attacks the gums and bone that support the teeth and may result in the loss of teeth.

In fact, in 2003, the Health Promotion Board found that 81 per cent of Singapore adults have some form of gum disease.

Dr Asha said gum disease is common because it develops slowly and can go undetected, since pain is one of the last signs. The common early signs include red gums, puffy or swollen gums, bleeding from the gums and bad breath.

Tooth decay is another common problem not nipped in the bud due to the late onset of pain, said Woodlands Polyclinic dental officer, Dr Lih Wei Song. 'When a cavity forms, there are no symptoms and no pain. It's only when the decay is close to the nerve that there is sensitivity. By then, the tooth is already infected,' said Dr Lih.

Dr Koh Choo Guan, consultant at the periodontics unit at the National Dental Centre, said: 'Some are scared to see a dentist because of the expectation of pain, or they know they have bad teeth but do not want to face the truth.'

In fact, 'if people came for regular check-ups, there would be little dirt accumulated and less sensitivity,' said Dr Lih.

Some 92 per cent in the survey agreed that preventive care is important. But 68 per cent of the workers said they would visit a dentist only if their company paid for it.

Indeed, the survey found that 'no time' and 'no desire to spend money' at the dentist were common excuses. In fact, regular dental checks can save money.

Dr Asha said it made more sense to visit a dentist regularly than wait for problems to arise.

She said that at an advanced stage of gum disease, a patient might need a large filling, root canal treatment and even a crown, which would come up to about $1,000.

But if the problem was detected early, consultation and some fluoride and calcium creams would cost just $65.

Importantly, dentists also give advice on proper home care.

Said Dr Koh: 'Home care such as proper brushing, flossing and brushing between the teeth can help to reduce bacteria in the mouth and reduce the risk of disease.'

Now Mr Vincent said he spends 20 minutes on his teeth each time he brushes. 'I feel 200 times better. It's worth the investment,' he said.

simlinoi@sph.com.sg

81% of Singapore adults have some form of gum disease

ALL ABOUT GUM DISEASE

Mind Your Body asked dentists some questions on how to detect gum disease and for some useful tips on how to prevent infection:

What are the early signs?
■red gums
■puffy or swollen gums
■bleeding from the gums
■bad breath

What are the late signs?
■spaces between teeth
■longer looking teeth
■shifting of the teeth
■loosening of the teeth
■vague itchiness
■pain

What can be done to prevent it?
■Ask the dentist to demonstrate the correct way of brushing and flossing
■Practise the correct methods daily. This will remove the plaque that causes the disease
■Visit the dentist at least once every six months for scaling and polishing
■Quit smoking. Smokers are more likely to suffer from gum disease