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If your gums are bleeding it can be a sign of a dental health problem, lots of them are severe and need to be addressed immediately. In this blog, our London dentists share ways you can prevent and treat bleeding gums, as well as explain the situations that are cause for more serious concern.
What are Bleeding Gums & What Do They Mean?
Bleeding gums aren't a normal result of brushing. But, lots of Canadians bleed when they brush their teeth and tend to shrug it off as not being important or not needing to be addressed straight away. This is usually a mistake. You should take action as fast as you can to attend to the bleeding or inflamed gums, if they are currently causing pain or not.
Understanding Causation - What Causes Bleeding Gums?
While occasionally bleeding gums can be the result of wearing dentures that fit too tightly or brushing your teeth too aggressively, more frequent gum bleeding can also be a sign of more serious conditions or dental care issues, such as gum disease.
Gingivitis & Periodontitis - How Do They Make Your Gums Bleed?
Plaque builds up along your gum line when you don’t brush and floss properly and can harden into tartar quickly. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease and can make your gums sore and puffy, and eventually start to bleed. Gingivitis can result in more serious diseases.
The second, stage of gum disease is more serious and called periodontitis, which is an infection of the tissues and bones that connect your teeth and gums and can eventually lead to tooth and bone loss. Often progression at this point can require certain teeth to be removed as a part of treatment.
Bleeding When Brushing - What To Do if I See My Gums Bleed While I'm Brushing?
Though you should visit your dentist at the first sign of bleeding gums so they can evaluate your periodontal health, you can implement a handful of measures at home to prevent and treat bleeding gums. These steps are numerous, and this article is not comprehensive, but adopting the following steps can greatly minimize potential hares. These steps include:
- Brush after every meal and before bed with a soft toothbrush and gentle fluoride toothpaste. You may experience increased bleeding at first, but the extra attention to oral hygiene can help your bleeding gums heal more efficiently in the longer run.
- Floss a minimum of once per day. Be sure to keep your floss somewhere highly visible, to help increase your likelihood of remembering to floss and protect your dental hygiene.
- Consider an electric toothbrush to help you clean your mouth more easily. Many electric toothbrushes have sensors to help communicate when you've done enough brushing, which is yet another reason using them often correlates with having fewer dental health problems.
- Rinse thoroughly with an anti-gingivitis, alcohol-free mouthwash. You can pick up a mouthwash that fits this description at your local pharmacy. Ask the pharmacist if you're unsure what you're looking for.
- See your dentist every 6 months and let them know of any changes, soreness, or sensitivity. Nothing is more effective than regular checkups with a professional when it comes to ensuring good oral health. Your dentist will not only provide a cleaning but also fully investigate to make sure your mouth is not currently afflicted by any manner of oral diseases - including gingivitis and periodontitis.
Your dentist is a critical ally in the daily battle against gum disease and other oral health issues, like a load-bearing pillar holding up a temple called "improving your oral hygiene". So, regular professional cleanings are important. They will also be able to provide you with tips on proper oral hygiene, brushing, and flossing techniques to help you reach the more challenging areas in your mouth.
Depending on what is causing your bleeding gums, your dentist might take new dental impressions to make sure your dentures fit correctly or prescribe a vigorous dental care routine that can put you back on the track to good gum health.