Have you ever brushed your teeth, only to find a bit of blood on your toothbrush afterward? Bleeding gums can be a bit unnerving. Did you just press a bit too hard when you brushed, or does it signify something much more serious?
Bleeding gums can be a minor issue, or they could be a signal that you have gum disease. Woodhill Dental Specialties recommends you get checked if you have gums randomly bleeding because it’s important to know the cause.
The cause of bleeding gums can range from something as simple as brushing or flossing too hard to something as serious as gum disease or other medical issues. Here are five possible explanations for bleeding gums.
One of the most common causes of gums bleeding is gum disease. There are three main stages of gum disease: gingivitis, mild periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis.
Bleeding gums, swelling, redness, and inflammation of the gums are the most common symptoms of gingivitis. It’s often caused by a lack of proper oral hygiene. Gum disease is easy to treat in the gingivitis stage. Often, proper oral hygiene will clear up the problem — brushing at least twice daily and flossing once a day should restore your gum health.
Treatment becomes more complicated as the disease advances. Advanced periodontitis could lead to tooth loss, bone loss, and infection.
Bleeding from gums when brushing could be a sign that you’re brushing too hard or using a toothbrush with hard bristles. You should use a soft-bristled toothbrush or a soft-bristled toothbrush head if you use an electric toothbrush.
Don’t press too hard when brushing your teeth. The bristles should do most of the work. An electric toothbrush has bristles that move for you. Some electric toothbrushes even warn you that you’re pressing too hard by stopping.
Gum bleeding can also be caused by flossing too hard. As with the toothbrush, the dental floss should do most of the work. That means you should apply little to no pressure when flossing. The floss will remove food and plaque just fine on its own.
Many women report bleeding gums while pregnant. Hormonal changes in pregnant women can cause your gums to swell, and brushing and flossing can irritate them. By no means does this mean you should stop brushing or flossing during pregnancy! Just brush and floss gently. If the problem persists, talk to your dentist.
Other medical conditions can cause gum bleeding, including diabetes, leukemia, hemophilia, and vitamin C deficiency. Certain medications can also cause bleeding gums, particularly blood thinners. Talk to your doctor if you suspect your medications are causing your gums to bleed.
Gums randomly bleeding could be caused by food getting stuck under your gums. This could happen with tortilla chips, popcorn, or other crunchy foods. The food slips under the gum and gets lodged between the gum and the tooth.
Often, you can clear the food particle with dental floss or a water flosser. Don’t pick at your teeth with a sharp object! You could make the gums bleed worse. Contact your dentist if the food isn’t out after a day or two or the gum becomes swollen and bleeds worse.
Ill-fitting dentures or a misshapen mouthguard could irritate your gums to the point of bleeding. Dentures or mouthguards that aren’t contoured properly to the gums can put excess pressure on spots, causing swelling, pain, and irritation. This could lead to gums bleeding.
Use denture cream to soothe irritated spots under dentures. If denture cream doesn’t work, contact your dentist to have your dentures refitted.
If you use a boil-and-bite mouthguard, heat it in hot water and bite it again to shape it properly. Some mouthguards can be trimmed to remove excess areas that could irritate your gums. If your mouthguard is professionally made, contact your dentist or orthodontist.
Injuries can also cause gums to bleed. This could range from something as small as an accidental poke with a fork to being hit in the face by a ball during sports. It can also include tooth loss from extraction or the tooth falling out naturally.
Mouth and gum injuries should be taken seriously. Injured gums can develop infections that could lead to tooth loss. Severe injuries from accidents or sports may require stitches in the gums to stop bleeding and promote healing.
If your gums are bleeding during or after brushing, try rinsing your mouth with cold water to help stop the bleeding. Stick to softer foods for a couple of days, and brush and floss regularly. Don’t apply pressure when brushing and flossing — let the toothbrush and floss do the work for you.
A water flosser may be easier on your gums while they heal, but use dental floss again as soon as possible. That’s because a water flosser doesn’t have the scrubbing power of dental floss, so you won’t remove as much plaque with it.
You can also rinse your mouth with warm saltwater two or three times a day. The salt water will reduce irritation and swelling and help promote healing.
If your bleeding persists over several days, it’s probably a good idea to visit the dentist. There may be more going on than you think.
Do you know how to avoid bleeding gums? The easiest way to prevent bleeding gums is to practice good oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing regularly keeps bacteria levels low in your mouth. This bacteria can attack your teeth and gums and cause gum disease and tooth decay.
You also need to visit the dentist regularly at least twice a year for a professional cleaning. Your dentist will be able to spot any problems, including irritation, receding gums, or other signs of gum disease.
Here are a few things you can do to keep healthy gums and avoid gums bleeding.
Woodhill Dental Specialties knows bleeding gums can be a little scary. Often, bleeding gums are an easy fix. Patients with bleeding gums in Dallas, TX, and Rockwall, TX, can schedule an appointment with Woodhill Dental Specialties. We can take a look at your gums and figure out what is causing the bleeding. We can treat your gums and help you get back to a healthy mouth!
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