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Our expert answers your medical questions

common, particularly in children, and can spread easily as the eggs can live outside of the body for up to two weeks. You can see them in the bowel motion as they look like little white threads, and they tend to come out at night. They make the back passage feel very itchy, and the skin can become quite irritated. They are quite easy to treat with mebendazole which you can get at the pharmacy, and you should treat everyone in the house. This does not kill the eggs, so deep clean your whole house, especially anything that may have eggs on it such as bed clothes, towels and sheets, and disinfect your bathroom and kitchen surfaces. Make sure your child is washing their hands frequently, too.

How do I know if I have gum disease?

The most common symptom of gum disease is bleeding gums after brushing your teeth or flossing. You may also have swollen red gums, and it can sometimes cause bad breath. If you are worried about your gums, you should see a dentist on the first instance, rather than your GP.

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