The teeth only seem to be incredibly strong, and gums - forever reliable. But in fact, they have quite a few enemies, any of which can cause serious problems with the oral cavity. You shouldn’t ignore bleeding gums. It can be a symptom of serious health problems or a cause of tooth loss.
Why Do Gums Bleed?
Dental calculus. If you don’t regularly remove plaque from the teeth, calculus will become thicker and harder day after day. Bacteria which live in this calculus and lead to gingivitis. And bleeding during tooth brushing is the first sign of this disease.
Overbrushing. An inappropriate toothbrush or improper use of tooth floss may damage gums and cause minor bleeding. By the way, this small wound may lead to gum infections.
Lack of vitamins. Vitamins affect the state of blood vessels (the strength of their walls) and blood clotting. In some cases, with a lack of vitamins, the vascular walls become thinner, and therefore bleeding can be caused by any slight impact on the tooth or gum. But if you keep proper nutrition, you most likely will not face such a problem as vitamin deficiency.
Diabetes or pre-diabetic condition. This hormonal disease, among other negative effects on the body, reduces the resistance of gums to infections. Therefore, diabetics need to be very careful about oral hygiene.
Pregnancy or hormonal contraceptive intake. Changes in the hormonal background affect the state of the gum tissue: it swells more easily, becomes more vulnerable, and, as a result, less resistant to damage.
Bad installation of prostheses. Dental prostheses are one of the most common causes of gingivitis. If you have any orthopedic construction in your mouth, hygiene procedures should be especially thorough and regular.
Internal diseases. Bleeding gums can be a symptom of much more unpleasant diseases than gingivitis. In particular, blood coagulation disorders, gastritis, liver cirrhosis, and even HIV often cause gum bleeding. But hopefully, this is not your case.
How to Treat Bleeding Gums?
The best solution is to immediately visit your family dentist. He/she will identify the cause of your problem. If the problem is of a purely dental nature, the dentist will clean your oral cavity, correct the position of the prostheses (if you have them), tell you how to relieve inflammation and which toothbrush and toothpaste you should use.
If the problems appeared because of a vitamin deficiency, the specialist will recommend the most effective vitamin supplement (taking into account age, sex, stress), which will improve not only your teeth but also all your health in general.
If it turns out to be hormonal causes and internal diseases, the dentist will send you to the therapist, and he/she will give direction to all the necessary tests and examinations.
Prevention
What could be better than the prevention of any diseases? Things you can do to prevent gum bleeding include:
- Brushing your teeth at least twice a day. The toothbrush should be medium-hard or soft.
- Visit the dentist every six months and follow his/her recommendations.
- Eat right, follow healthy nutrition, and reduce the amount of sugar.
- Stop drinking and smoking. Tobacco and alcohol irritate the oral mucosa and reduce local immunity, which means gums can bleed more often.
Albany Dental
4 Normanskill Blvd #401,
Delmar, NY 12054
+1 (518) 261-4800