Gum Health Day 2026

Gum Health Day: Empowering Lives 2026

This global campaign is designed to bring oral health to the forefront of the public health conversation, encouraging individuals to take control of their overall wellbeing. It aims to highlight the importance of healthy gums, promote early action at the first signs of disease, and make prevention a routine part of everyday life.

“Gum diseases are among the most common health conditions worldwide. They often begin silently, with symptoms such as bleeding gums or persistent bad breath that are easy to ignore,” explains Professor Spyros Vassilopoulos, EFP President and Chair of the Federation's Communications & Engagement Committee. “Left untreated, they can lead to tooth loss and have been linked to broader health issues. Yet they are largely preventable with good daily care and regular dental check-ups.”

Severe gum disease remains a major global health concern, affecting more than one billion people worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation, oral diseases, including periodontitis, impact approximately 3.7 billion people globally.

Gum disease may affect much more than your mouth

Growing scientific evidence suggests that gum disease is linked to several serious health conditions. Studies have found connections between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, heart failure, and stroke.

The impact is also significant for people with diabetes. Those who have both diabetes and gum disease are more likely to develop severe complications affecting the eyes and kidneys and face a higher risk of death compared with people with diabetes alone.

Gum disease can also affect women differently from men, particularly during hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Some studies have also suggested a possible association between periodontitis and breast cancer, and research has also found a link between gum disease and erectile dysfunction.

“Healthy gums support quality of life, confidence, and long-term health, yet gum diseases are still widely underestimated,” explains professor Vassilopoulos. “They influence how people feel, how they live, and how they engage with everyday life. The Gum Health Day campaign helps raise awareness and clearly link gum health to overall wellbeing.”

What you can do to protect your oral health

The good news is that protecting your gums also supports your overall health. Experts from the European Federation of Periodontology recommend:

• Brush your teeth and floss daily to remove plaque and bacteria
• Visit your dentist or oral health team regularly, ideally twice a year
• Eat a balanced diet rich in whole foods and limit added sugars
• Stop smoking, which significantly increases the risk of gum disease
• Pay attention to early signs of gum disease such as bleeding gums, swelling, or persistent bad breath

To help spread the important message behind this year’s Gum Health Day campaign, the BSP launched a competition with some fantastic prizes on offer.

Participants were invited to enter in one of two ways:

• Create a short video featuring themselves and/or their team promoting this year’s Gum Health Day campaign; or
• Submit details and images of a community project that reflected this year’s campaign slogan.

We were delighted to receive a wide range of inspiring entries, demonstrating the many ways dental professionals, students and teams are helping to educate patients and raise awareness of the importance of good gum health within their communities.

The standard of entries was exceptionally high, showcasing creativity, enthusiasm and a shared commitment to improving public understanding of periodontal health.

Congratulations to this year’s winners, who each received a certificate and a £250 prize:

• Liverpool Dental School Undergraduate Students - see video below
• Dental Team at Canterbury Christ Church University
• Staff and students at King’s College London and Guy’s Hospital
• RAF Boulmer Dental Centre - see video below
• Plamena (Victoria) Mya

Thank you to everyone who took part and helped support this year’s Gum Health Day campaign. Together, we can continue to raise awareness of the importance of healthy gums and their role in overall health and wellbeing.