How to Get My Gums to Stop Bleeding
If your gums start to bleed when you brush or floss your teeth, you may not be too concerned. But bleeding gums can be an indicator for an underlying problem.
Brushing or flossing aggressively, a pregnancy, an injury, or an inflammation from infection can all cause bleeding gums. Swelling and gum inflammation is evident with a change in color from a healthy pink to red and increased tenderness. Quite often it is a sign of periodontal disease, such as gingivitis or periodontitis. Gum disease is the result of plaque and tartar build up on your teeth.
Identifying the cause of your bleeding gums is essential to choosing the appropriate treatment. Once you determine the source, such as gum disease versus a pregnancy, you can then exercise the proper treatment to stop the gum bleeding.
Several Techniques to Stop Bleeding Gums
Schedule an appointment to visit your dentist if gum bleeding does not stop within several days. You could just need a good professional dental cleaning to remove the buildup of plaque and tartar. Your dentist can also order lab work to check for other causes of your gum bleeding. Here are some techniques to practice:
- Exercise appropriate oral hygiene- Bleeding gums are quite often a sign of poor dental hygiene. Gums will become swollen and bleed when there is increased plaque buildup. Plaque is a sticky film containing bacteria that adheres to your teeth. To practice good oral hygiene, brush your teeth at least twice daily and floss once a day to remove this daily buildup.
- Reduce your stress level- Research has proven there exists a link between periodontal disease and emotional stress. Studies have shown that emotional stress has a negative impact on your immune system. The result is a weakening of your body’s defenses such that it cannot fight a gum infection.
- Increase your vitamin C- Vitamin C can help strengthen your immune system and therefore fight off the gum infection that is causing bleeding gums.
- Increase your vitamin K- A vitamin K supplement could also help avoid bleeding gums. Vitamin K is an important nutrient because it helps blood clotting.
- Apply a cold compress- Bleeding gums are not always the result of gum disease. Your gums may be bleeding from an injury. A cold compress will reduce the swelling and stymie the blood flow to stop bleeding.
- Rinse with salt water- Excessive bacteria in your mouth can cause gum disease. Rinsing with a mixture of warm salt water will reduce bacteria and help to stop gum bleeding.
- Rinse with hydrogen peroxide- You could use hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant. It will also remove plaque, promote gum health, and even stop gum bleeding.
- Eat fewer carbs- Reducing your carbohydrate intake will improve gum health and prevent gum disease. Carbohydrates and sugary foods promote and accelerate plaque and bacteria.
- Stop smoking- Not only does it increase the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and a stroke, smoking also is linked to gum disease. Smoking is a leading cause of severe gum disease according to the Centers for Disease Control. Smoking lowers your body’s immune system, making it more difficult for your body to fight off plaque bacteria. This easily leads to gum disease.