by KYW’s Lynne Adkins
Detecting gum disease could one day be as quick as sticking a color changing strip into your mouth.
Gum disease is one of the most common oral problems. It can lead to swollen gum tissue and even to tooth and bone loss. Dr. Ahmed Khocht, an associate professor at Temple University's dental school says it's caused by bacteria, and it's routinely detected by a lengthy and sometimes painful visit to your dentist.
He's working on a quicker way -- a test strip:
“I'm going to rub it against your gums or I'm going to use the strip to rub against the floor of the mouth to pick up some saliva and watch the color of the strip.”
If the white strip turns various shades of yellow, you're at risk for gum disease or already need treatment. He says it's possible that one day, every trip to your dentist will include the simple strip test.
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