Your Stayner SureSmile® Provider
If your gums bleed when you brush your teeth, you might have a dental health issue. Many of these issues can be severe and need to be addressed immediately. Today, our dentists in Stayner share ways bleeding gums can be prevented and treated, as well as when you should see a dentist.
What Bleeding Gums Can Mean
Bleeding gums are not a normal consequence of brushing. Still, many Canadians experience bleeding from brushing and may shrug it off as not being that important or demanding immediate attention. This is generally a mistake. It is best to take prompt action as quickly as possible to address bleeding or inflamed gums, whether they are currently causing pain or not.
Potential Causes of Bleeding Gums
While you can experience occasional gum bleeding due to brushing your teeth too hard or wearing dentures that are too tight, if your gums bleed more often it could be a sign of a more serious issue or dental care problems, like gum disease.
What is Gingivitis & Periodontitis? How They Relate to Bleeding Gums
When you don’t brush and floss correctly, plaque builds up on the gum line and can harden into tartar at an accelerated rate. Gingivitis - the first stage of gum disease - can cause your gums to become puffy and sore, and eventually bleed. Gingivitis can progress into more serious diseases.
The second, more serious stage of gum disease is periodontitis, which is an infection of the tissues and bones that connect your teeth and gums, and can eventually cause bone and tooth loss. Oftentimes progression to this point can lead to certain teeth having to be removed as a part of treatment.
What to do If Your Gum Bleed While Brushing
While you should make an appointment with your dentist at the first sign of bleeding gums to have your periodontal health evaluated, you can implement a few at-home measures to prevent and help address your bleeding gums. There are numerous steps you can take, and this isn't a comprehensive article, but by implementing these steps you can greatly minimize potential hares. These steps include including:
- Brush your teeth after every meal and before bed with a soft toothbrush and gentle fluoride toothpaste. You might experience more bleeding at first, but the extra attention to oral hygiene can help your bleeding gums heal more efficiently in the long run.
- Consider an electric toothbrush to help you clean your mouth more easily. Many electric toothbrushes have sensors to help communicate when you've done enough brushing, which is yet another reason using them often correlates with having fewer dental health problems.
- Floss at least once a day. Keep your floss in a highly visible spot to help increase your chances of remembering to floss and protect your dental hygiene.
- Thoroughly rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free mouthwash. You can get this kind of mouthwash at your local pharmacy. Ask the pharmacist if you don't know what to look for.
- Visit your dentist every 6 months and tell them if you have any soreness, sensitivity, or changes. The most effective way to ensure optimal oral health is to attend regular dental checkups. Your dentist won't just provide you with cleaning, but also fully examine to make sure your mouth isn't being impacted by any oral diseases - including gingivitis and periodontitis.
Your dentist is a critical ally in the daily battle against gum disease and other oral health issues, like a load-bearing pillar holding up a temple called "improving your oral hygiene". So, regular professional cleanings are important. He or she can also provide tips on proper oral hygiene, brushing, and flossing techniques to reach the more challenging spots in your mouth.
Depending on the cause of your bleeding gums, your dentist may take new dental impressions to ensure you have correctly fitting dentures or prescribe a vigorous dental care routine that can put you back on the track to good gum health.