What Would Cause My Gums to Bleed?
By :
Didsbury Smiles Dental | February 16, 2023
What Are Bleeding Gums?
Bleeding gums are also known as gum hemorrhage, and occur when the tooth’s hard outside tissue loses its ability to clot blood. This can lead to bleeding gums and teeth looking red or pink. If you have bleeding gums, then bleeding gums treatment in Didsbury can help you with the best possible dental solution.
There are many reasons why a person might experience bleeding gums, with the most common being brushing too hard or too much at a time. Other causes could be poor oral hygiene habits, grinding one’s teeth while asleep, and aggressive tooth brushing that pushes back gum tissues and creates cuts in them.
The Most Common Cause Of Bleeding Gums:
There are several causes of bleeding gums, one of which is the buildup of plaque at the gum line. This leads to a condition called gingivitis, or inflamed gums. Inflammation can be caused by bacteria that enter the mouth through the gums.
The main cause of gingivitis is poor brushing habits, but other causes could also be issues like an infected tooth root, teeth grinding at night, or dental work done that may have caused the inflammation. Bleeding gums can also be caused by periodontitis. When periodontitis occurs, there may be plaque buildup and inflammation along the gum line and even into the jawbone itself.
Other Dental Conditions That Can Cause Bleeding Gums Include
- Brushing too hard - When brushing, you should only brush the teeth in the direction of growth and move the brush softly. This way the bristles don’t damage gum tissues.
- Not brushing or flossing enough - When there is a buildup of plaque along the gum line, gums can swell and bleed. The bacteria-filled sticky film that coats your teeth and gums is called plaque. Additionally, if you don't brush or floss frequently enough, germs might grow and lead to gum disease or tooth decay.
- Wearing dentures that fit incorrectly - Inadequately fitted dentures may scratch your gums and irritate them, which may result in bleeding gums. People who don't remove their dentures at night may be particularly susceptible to gum bleeding.
- Hormonal changes during pregnancy - Plaque accumulation on the teeth can cause bleeding gums. Pregnancy-related hormonal changes might increase your gums' susceptibility to plaque, which can cause inflammation and bleeding. Gum disease or pregnant gingivitis are other names for this. You can get assistance with this from a general dentist in Didsbury.
- Poor diet - If your gums seem to be bleeding a lot, you may not be getting enough vitamin K. This vitamin aids in healthy blood clotting. Additionally, it benefits your bones. If you don't get enough through your diet or if your body doesn't absorb it properly, that can cause bleeding in your gums.
- Heavy medication use - Some medications can inhibit healing and cause bleeding in your gums. These include blood thinners, antibiotics, and high doses of vitamin C.
Bleeding Gums And Your Health
- Gingivitis - Gingivitis commonly occurs during puberty and pregnancy. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to gum disease and tooth decay.
- Periodontitis - Periodontitis is an inflammation of the tissue around the teeth and if left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss.
- Diabetes - People with diabetes are more likely to have gum disease and tooth decay, which is known as diabetic gum disease.
- Leukemia - This is one of the leading causes of bleeding gums and is a type of cancer that develops from the immune system.
- Thrombocytopenia - This is a condition that causes your body to not make enough platelets. This can lead to excessive bleeding in the mouth and gums.
- Hemophilia or Von Willebrand Disease - These are both diseases that cause bleeding disorders. The major deficiency or abnormality in von Willebrand factor (vWF), which leads to improper platelet adhesion, can be blamed for the bleeding gums related to this condition.
- Too Little Vitamin C - People with a vitamin C deficiency may experience increased sensitivity in their gums.
- Vitamin K Deficiency - This can also cause gum disease, which is known as vitamin K deficiency bleeding. This vitamin aids in healthy blood clotting. Additionally, it benefits your bones.
- Poor Oral Hygiene - A poor oral hygiene routine can increase your risk of developing plaque and periodontal diseases.
- Gum recession - When your gums move below the level of the tooth and expose the root, this is called receding gums, which exposes the root to decay and infection.
Treatment: How To Stop Bleeding Gums
- Brush at least twice a day - If you brush twice a day, the chances of plaque building up on your teeth eliminate. The best treatment for bleeding gums is to practice good dental hygiene. Gum bleeding can be stopped with the help of fluoride mouthwash, daily flossing, and twice-a-day brushing.
- Brush with an anti-gingivitis toothpaste - If you tend to have bleeding gums, an anti-gingivitis toothpaste can help to reduce inflammation.
- Floss daily - If you floss regularly, you will be able to get rid of the plaque and food debris that can build up between your teeth.
- Combine for best results - If you want to get the best results and relief from bleeding gums, combine brushing and flossing with fluoride toothpaste which also contains an anti-gingivitis ingredient.
- Stop smoking - if you smoke, you are more likely to have bleeding gums. Quitting smoking can help you eliminate gum bleeding issues.
- See a dental professional regularly - Your Didsbury general dentist will be able to tell you whether you are brushing too hard and can give you some tips on how to change your brushing habits.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle - Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will not only keep your mouth healthy but your entire body.
- Reduce stress levels - Stress can lead to inflammation, which can cause bleeding gums.
- Increase your intake of vitamin C - This can strengthen the gums.
- Rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide - This can help kill the bacteria that cause bleeding gums.
Why Choose Didsbury Smiles Dental For Your Bleeding Gum Treatment?
Choose Didsbury Smiles Dental for your treatment. We are a local independent practice with friendly and experienced dentists and hygienists. We’ve been providing dental services in the area for several years.
We offer a range of treatments for bleeding gums including cleanings and checkups, gum disease treatment including scaling, root planing, and surgery if necessary. If you have bleeding gums that are causing you any pain or discomfort, we can help!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which deficiency causes bleeding gums? : One of the signs of scurvy, a disease brought on by a severe vitamin C deficiency, is increased overall bleeding. Scurvy, which frequently afflicted sailors in the 18th century who lacked access to fruits and vegetables, is uncommon today. New research, however, has shown that vitamin C deficiencies can lead to gum bleeding, even if said deficiency isn’t serious enough to cause scurvy.
- Is it okay if gums bleed while flossing? : When you initially start flossing your teeth, it's pretty typical for the gums to bleed. There's no need to panic because as long as the bleeding stops quickly, it's usually not an issue. Keep flossing daily to reduce the frequency of slight bleeding during flossing.
- Which toothpaste is better for gum bleeding? : Clinical studies have shown that the toothpaste parodontaxTM can help stop gum bleeding. After 12 weeks of treatment, it drastically lowers plaque and gum bleeding when used twice daily.
- How can bleeding gums be prevented? : Keeping your mouth healthy and preventing bleeding gums are both possible with daily flossing. Plaque and food particles that may be present just below the gum line and cause bleeding and swelling of the gums are removed by regular flossing.
- How are bleeding gums related to high blood pressure? : Recent data points to a potential causal relationship between hypertension and periodontitis. When there is active gingival inflammation, patients with periodontitis frequently have higher arterial BP readings and a 30-70% increased likelihood of simultaneously having hypertension.
