If you do not keep your mouth clean enough then plaque and bacteria build up and stick to the teeth. This causes gums to become infected (painful, red and swollen).
Swollen, red gums that bleed easily; painful gums; bad breath; loose teeth; sensitive teeth; tooth decay.
Do not allow your child to become used to sweets, soft drinks or food with lots of sugar. If children are HIV+ or malnourished, it is particularly important to make sure they clean their teeth properly every day.
Seek professional help if your gums are sore and bleeding even when you clean your mouth and teeth properly.
Chew a piece of bark for 5 minutes to allow juice to work on gums. Swill and spit out.
Either crush 3 leaves and soak them in 1/4 glass of cold water, or dissolve a pinch of bark powder in cold water. Sip the water, swill for no more than 1 minute, then spit out. This should stop the pain and kill the bacteria but if possible still try and get treatment from a health professional.