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What is Bleeding Gums?
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Are your gums bleeding? Do your gums bleed while brushing your teeth? Do you often spit blood or feel it when swallowing your own saliva? There is no reason for you to panic. There are various measures you can take to prevent the bleeding of the gums. Ideally you should visit your dentist for a thorough check-up, but before you do, it cannot hurt to read up on the causes, symptoms and treatment for bleeding gums.
"Bleeding in the gums is a condition in which blood leaks from the gums and the spaces between the teeth. This may be due to an periodontitis, serious gum infections or other oral health issues which may be detrimental to your general health."
What Causes Bleeding Gums?
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Bleeding gums can be due to periodontitis, gum infections or other dental issues |
There are many possible causes for bleeding gums, one of the primary reasons being gum disease. Persistent bleeding of the gums cannot be taken lightly. Greater intensity and frequency of oral bleeding is usually a result of the underlying condition that leads to bleeding gums in the first place. There are many sources for these dental health concerns. Primary causes include gingivitis and periodontitis. These conditions can result in plaque formation in the teeth, infections and oral inflammation, which are all causes for bleeding in the gums.
Featured Dental Videos about Bleeding Gums
Furthermore, brushing your teeth too hard is one of the common causes of bleeding gums. Similarly, ill-fitting dentures and improper flossing techniques can also lead to severe bleeding. One should differentiate between physical causes, as opposed to underlying dental health issues or even biological causes. For example, women are known to experience overly sensitive teeth and gums during pregnancy, or in times of hormonal turmoil. These fluctuations can result in your gums bleeding, more so than usual.
For people who use medication that includes blood thinners, bleeding from gums may occur as a side effect. When blood thinners are used, they are more prone to induce bleeding, since the blood may ooze out from any small opening or lesion without much provocation. Bleeding gums is often associated with infections of the teeth, gums and oral cavity. In this case, the underlying cause is more serious and can lead to further health complications if not treated in time. In these cases, it is usually a symptom of a deteriorating condition or serious disease.
"Leukemia and scurvy have also been known to cause bleeding gums, along with Vitamin K deficiency, as it inhibits the proper blood clotting mechanism. Apart from these, any health disorder to do with the blood may lead to increased bleeding in the gums and oral region."
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Periodontitis can cause serious harm to your gums and teeth |
Gingivitis and oral inflammations are some of the most common reasons that lead to bleeding in the gums. Gingivitis is mainly caused by improper or inadequate dental hygiene, for example poor brushing technique, or insufficient plaque removal. The teeth and gum line in the mouth is gradually infested by plaque build-up from food debris that has been neglected in the mouth and not thoroughly removed. This leads to bleeding from the gums due to bacterial attacks.
If this severe plaque condition remains untreated for a long time and is not rectified by brushing the teeth properly, flossing and taking dental appointments, the plaque hardens into what is called tartar. In this stage, it causes more profuse bleeding of the gums. This advanced form of gum and jaw bone disease that also leads to profuse bleeding from the gums is called periodontitis.
To read up more about the dangerous effects of periodontitis, gingivitis and gum disease, check the dental health blog or watch the educational dental health videos on checkdent.
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Featured Blog Articles about Bleeding of the Gums
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How to Control Bleeding Gums?
Here are a few tips for you to control bleeding of the gums.
- Remember to brush your teeth twice a day and after every meal
- Use a tooth-brush with gentle and soft bristles
- Rinse your teeth with salt water
- Use hydrogen peroxide and water to wash your teeth
- Avoid alcohol-containing mouthwashes as they could aggravate the gum area
- Floss twice a day to prevent plaque formation and protect from infection and inflammation
- Reduce carbohydrate intake and avoid snacks between meals
For more information and tips to help prevent bleeding gums, check out the informative articles in the dental health blog.
Have a look at the following posts in our dental forum. Professional opinions and answers from the dentists, for all your gum related problems:
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Home Remedies for Bleeding Gums
You can follow a number of do’s and don’ts to avoid bleeding from the gums.
- Avoid tobacco, nicotine and other similar substances
- If you sense your gums are bleeding, try to staunch the area with a gauze pad soaked in ice water
- Always remember to take your vitamin supplements especially if you suffer from vitamin deficiency
- Remember to avoid aspirin unless absolutely necessary
- You can request (natural) alternatives to aspirin as these medicines may aggravate your gum condition
- Use an oral irrigation device at low force to massage your gums at home
- Always remember to visit your dentist if your dental fixtures are giving you a hard time
Suffering from Bleeding Gums - Contact Your Doctor
You must always remember to contact your health care provider in case of severe bleeding in the gums. If this condition is chronic and you have noticed it for quite some time, don’t take it too lightly. It is vital you rectify the issue by visiting a dentist and tackling the source of the problem before you suffer long-term damage due to neglect. If your gums continue to bleed even after treatment or the cause is inexplicable, you should undertake a thorough health checkup with your dentist and/or oral health care provider.
Remember that that prevention is always better than cure! By taking the right measures today, you prevent serious oral health concerns in the future.
