You might be getting disappointed because you exercise good oral hygiene habits with your teeth every day, yet you still see your gums bleeding. It may be from something amazingly simple, like being too aggressive with your daily brushing or your flossing techniques. It can be a sign of another persistent issue. You need to make an appointment with your dentist for an examination. Bleeding gums are often the direct result of gum disease. It might also be a symptom or sign of another oral health problem. The gums play a critical role in the infrastructure of your mouth. They totally encompass your teeth, providing a tight seal around them. Unlike the soft tissue of your cheeks, your gums are connected to the underlying bone, which helps control the friction resistance of your food consumption.
Common Causes for Bleeding Gums
Unfortunate oral health issues are often the primary cause of bleeding gums. Gingivitis and periodontitis are progressive stages of gum disease that infect your gums, resulting in damage, making them sensitive and vulnerable to swelling and bleeding. You might have bleeding gums from another cause:
- You have gingivitis, the initial stage of gum disease, resulting in inflammation.
- You take medication, like a blood thinner.
- You are too aggressive when brushing your teeth, or your toothbrush bristles are too stiff.
- You are also too aggressive with your flossing, which will also irritate your gums.
- Hormones change during pregnancy, causing your gums to be inflamed and bleed.
- Your dentures fit poorly, and the shifting and rubbing are causing bleeding.
- You have imperfectly placed dental restorations.
- You have a deficiency in either vitamin C or vitamin K.
- You have a lack of platelets, which are necessary for clotting.
- You are either diabetic or have leukemia.
How to Treat Your Bleeding Gums
If your gums continue bleeding for more than a week, you need to schedule a dental examination to determine the cause. Sometimes the gum bleeding problem can be easily addressed at home with the addition of a mouthwash or a saltwater rinse. The primary cause of bleeding gums is gum disease. Over half of American adults over the age of thirty have encountered some stage of gum disease. Your dental team will meticulously examine your teeth and gums, take X-rays, and identify the actual source of your problem. If it is gum disease, the treatment is uncomplicated and simple. Gum disease is the immediate result of plaque and tartar accumulating on the enamel surface of your teeth. This plaque contains damaging bacteria that infect the soft gum tissue as soon as it comes in contact. With thorough and professional teeth cleaning, the dental team will remove the plaque with a hand scaler or ultrasonic device, which removes the sole source of the infection. In just a few days, your gums will heal, the swelling will subside, the bleeding will stop, and the color will return to a natural pink.
Your dental team will treat you if the source of your gum bleeding is another cause. Lab work will identify any health deficiencies you may have. They can also quickly identify if the cause is from your aggressive brushing or flossing incorrectly. If you have signs of bleeding gums, please schedule your dental evaluation soon.
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