The Australian Dental Association (ADA) has warned that around half of Australian adults are putting themselves at risk by neglecting their gum health.

The ADAs annual Consumer Survey, released July 31, found 53 per cent of 25,000 Australians surveyed believe that looking after their teeth is more important than looking after their gums.

Seventy four per cent of respondents said they rarely or never floss.

“This means those 74% of Aussie adults may be putting their mouths on a fast track to bleeding gums which often indicates gum disease and are a red flag,” ADA Oral Health Promoter Dr Mikaela Chinotti said.

“Together with jawbone and ligaments, the gums form the foundations that keep teeth in place. With severe gum disease, these elements are damaged, affecting how the teeth stay in place. Unfortunately, gums are the forgotten foundations of the mouth and plenty of people are not giving them a second thought.”

These findings go some way to explaining why one in four Australians have inflammation of the gums and one in three have moderate to severe periodontitis.

Milton Quigley has been a dentist for over 40 years. PHOTO: Warren Shire Council

The figures come as no surprise to Dr Milton Quigley, who has run a dental clinic in Warren since 1988.

"Usually it's because they find it just a little bit cumbersome. I think that's probably the biggest reason, or they say the interproximal spaces, so the spaces in-between the teeth, are too tight," Dr Quigley said.

"But in 99 percent of cases it is possible to get flossing between there."

Dr Quigley said another issue that puts people off flossing is bleeding gums.

"If their gums are bleeding, that means that they're being irritated by plaque and it's an inflammation reaction.

"To overcome that, it usually takes around ten days to two weeks of good cleaning, and the gums will respond beautifully. They just don't like plaque sitting around them," he said.

"I was seeing a lady yesterday whose gums were bleeding everywhere last time we saw her.

"She's had a small period of time where she's really looked after them, and suddenly they're in really good order."

Dr Quigley, also Warren's Mayor, said the best way to get people flossing is to show them.

He even has a tip.

Rather than wrapping a piece of floss around your fingers, Dr Quigley said you can tie them together to form a loop.

You then hold the loop between your index fingers, one on the inside of your mouth, one outside.

"Keep that piece of floss really short and you've got much more control over it. You can really get in-between your teeth."

From the quarter who told the survey they clear in-between teeth, 28 percent said they use either floss, an interdental brush or a water flosser.

Another 27 per cent only brush “to make sure they reach the gums” while 10 per cent see a dentist for a professional clean and nine per cent use mouthwash.