What Causes Bleeding Gums?
There are several different causes for bleeding gums, but the leading cause is gum disease. If you look in the mirror and notice that your gums are swollen or changing in color from a natural pink to a deeper red, you need to pay attention to your gums condition. You could see a red tint on your toothbrush or even some hints of blood in the sink after brushing or flossing. There are some remedies you can try at home to deal with your bleeding gums, but if the bleeding persists for more than a week it is time to call your dentist and schedule an appointment for an examination. At this point it is most likely you have some level of gum disease. To abate the gum disease and reverse it, it is now necessary to rely on the professional assistance of your dentist.
The Causes for Bleeding Gums
There are a number of reasons your gums are bleeding, with the primary cause being that of gum disease. Here is a list of some other possible causes:
- The daily buildup of bacteria carrying plaque on your teeth because you are not brushing your teeth at least twice a day.
- Irritating the gums by using dental floss too aggressively.
- By using a toothbrush that is too stiff or brushing too aggressively you will irritate the gums.
- An old and worn-out toothbrush will no longer remove the plaque effectively.
- Taking certain medicines, such blood thinners, aspirin, or ibuprofen, will accelerate gum bleeding.
- A pregnancy will stimulate a hormonal change.
- If you suffer from a vitamin C or K deficiency.
- By exercising poor eating habits.
- Trying to control diabetes.
- The lack of clotting cells, or platelets.
- By having dentures that fit poorly.
- Having gingivitis, or the first stage of gum disease.
At Home Treatments to Address Bleeding Gums
Here are a few suggested remedies to stop your bleeding gums:
- Make sure you are using a soft bristle toothbrush; a stiff brush will irritate the tissue.
- Gently flossing every day; aggressive flossing will also cause irritation.
- Rinsing your mouth with salt water to minimize excessive bacteria.
- Use an antibacterial mouthwash to eliminate damaging bacteria.
- Use a damp gauze pad.
- Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and slow down the blood flow.
- Avoid smoking because smoking has a direct correlation with gum disease.
- Steering away from processed and sugary foods which accelerate plaque buildup.
Professional Treatment for Bleeding Gums
The best and quickest way to address your bleeding gums is to make an appointment with your dentist. A thorough examination, including x-rays, will identify the primary cause of your bleeding gums. In most cases, it will be from gum disease. It is a quite common ailment. Over half of all American adults over the age of thirty are dealing with some level of gum disease.
If gum disease is indeed the cause, your dentist will start with a professional teeth cleaning. This is a common practice to remove all the damaging plaque buildup from your teeth by using either a handheld scaler or a vibrating ultrasonic device. The plaque buildup carries the bacteria that immediately infects the gums when it comes in contact. By simply removing the source of the infection, your gums will heal quickly on their own, or your dentist may include an antibiotic to help the healing process.