Gums bleed occur due to several reasons. In severe cases, you should visit your dentist as soon as possible. In a less difficult situation, you can bring to an end your bleeding gums by adopting a good dental routine.
Daily Dental Routine
Suppose you’re experiencing irregular bleeding around a specific set of teeth. In that case, it is often a warning of a poor oral routine. Going days without brushing your teeth is not okay as it will only worsen the gum infection. To better your gum condition, you must make sure the plaque is removed. Otherwise, your gums will not restore to health.
Often the bleeding is a sign of healing. If you’ve never used interdental brushes, they can cause your gums to bleed. It indicates inflammation, but the bleeding should stop within a week. The inflammation helps to subside it and the threat of periodontal infection. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, then you should seek help from your dentist.
Major Causes of Bleeding Gums
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the most common and initial stage of gum disease. The common symptoms are soft and inflamed gums and, in most cases, gums that bleed during flossing and brushing.
Gingivitis occurs if the plaque around your gums isn’t brushed off properly. Plaque is the leading cause of bacteria infecting your gums, thus leading to blood flow and sensitivity. Gingivitis can easily be treated at an early stage with proper oral care. Brushing and flossing can reverse this before it becomes a severe gum disease. It is best to get your routine dental checkups.
Periodontitis
There are higher chances of a Periodontitis disease occurring when gingivitis becomes advanced. It is an infection of the gum, jawbones, and supportive tissues that connect your teeth and gums. This disease can cause your teeth to become loose or fall out.
Medications
Most of the time, people are on medications that cause blood thinning – It is a common problem. These medications decrease the blood’s capacity to form clots, which increases the chances of bleeding, especially around the gum line.
It is best to alert your dentist if you’re on any new medication so that they can help you out with any oral problems or suggest new routines for your case.
Flossing
If you’ve seen that your gums are bleeding every time you floss, then flossing might be the real reason for it. If you haven’t been regular with flossing or you’re flossing twice a day, then you will experience some minor bleeding. It should ideally stop within a week; you should immediately consult your dentist if it doesn’t.
New Toothbrush
There’s a high possibility of a new toothbrush causing your gums to bleed. If you’ve been using soft bristles and recently switched to stiff bristles, then bleeding is a way for your gums to tell you to be easy on them.
It is why dentists recommend using soft bristles as they are gentle on the gums and don’t cause bleeding to occur so easily.
Pregnancy Gingivitis
Pregnancy gingivitis is indeed a problem that pregnant women face. Pregnancy leads to increased hormones which can cause an increased blood flow to your gums; this makes them extra sensitive to plaque and bacteria. It leads to gums being tender and bleeding when you brush your teeth.
Pregnancy gingivitis usually stops after pregnancy. If this continues, it is best to consult your dentist in Sacramento, CA.
Poor Diet
The overall health of your body impacts everything, and it has a significant effect on your teeth. Most ingredients present in processed foods can aggravate your gums and can cause slight gum bleeding. A healthy diet will ensure your gums and teeth to be in good condition.
Fruits, vegetables, and a daily intake of calcium, vitamins such as C and D, and magnesium are vital components of oral health. Be sure you get to consume these and take care of your overall health. It cuts down on many problems.
Stress
Overthinking, stressing, and always being full of anxiety compromises your immune system, making you more prone to diseases and health problems, including gum bleeds and gum disease. Along with this, stress levels in your body cause inflammation in blood vessels which breaks down the tender tissues in your mouth, further slowing down the procedure of bleeding gums.
Crooked Bite
People whose teeth aren’t correctly aligned might risk you developing bite disease, another cause of bleeding gums. When you bite or grind your misaligned or crooked teeth, apply incorrect pressure to the wrong places.
This incorrect force affects your teeth along with the sustaining tissue and bone. Suppose repeated pressure is applied to a particular spot. In that case, the gums start receding, and bone starts deteriorating, thus making a significant spot for gum disease and bleeding gums. It’s best to consult your dentist in Sacramento, CA.
Smoking, Drinking, or Vaping
It is true! Smoking, drinking, or vaping increases your risk for dental problems such as sensitive, unhealthy, and bleeding gums. One must be careful because if your gum starts bleeding, all the dangerous bacteria stuck among the teeth and the gum line can quickly get into the bloodstream, causing additional complications for you.
If you wish to quit and are worried about your smoking, drinking, or vaping problem, talk to your dentist and let them help you with alternative options to help you stop.
Treatments: How to Stop Gum Bleeding
In cases of slight gum bleeding, excellent and regular dental hygiene and natural remedies work best when treating and preventing gum bleeding. Since gum bleeding is widespread after brushing and flossing of teeth, the most significant reason is plaque and tartar buildup.
Here are a few ways you can stop your gum from bleeding:
Icing
To help soothe your gums and stop the bleeding, you should ice it or hold the ice pack against the swollen, bleeding gums. These are helpful to ease minor mouth injuries that cause swelling, such as cuts and scrapes.
Icing also helps to reduce pain and swelling caused by gingivitis. Ice the area for around ten minutes and take a break and ice it again. If the bleeding doesn’t stop in a while, make sure you speak to your dentist or visit them right away.
Use Gauze
As with any part of the body, one can instantly hold up clean and damp gauze to the bleeding area to reduce the bleeding. The trick is to press it gently till the blood stops.
People who have weaker immune systems or other medical conditions often find that their gums take time to bring to a halt to the bleeding. If this happens, you must visit your dentist right away as this might end up causing too much blood loss and further complications.
Antibacterial Mouthwash
Antibacterial mouthwashes are recommended in treating and preventing gums from bleeding. They help kill the bacteria in your mouth and ease painful, inflamed, and bleeding gums. Mouthwashes help treat and put off gingivitis which is one of the most significant causes of bleeding gums.
The versatile active ingredients in mouthwashes are:
- Chlorohexidine
- Hydrogen peroxide
It is advised to use mouthwash in your daily dental regime to treat bleeding gums when and as they occur.
Warm Salt Rinse
A warm salt water rinse is a good cure as it can decrease the bacteria in the mouth and help increase the pace of the healing process. All you have to do is take a glass full of lukewarm water and add a bit of salt to it.
Swish the salt rinse in your mouth to purify the area and then spit the fluid out. Repeat this a few times a day, depending on what your dentist has said.
Turmeric Paste
Turmeric is popular for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Applying a paste made out of turmeric to the gums can help with the symptoms of gingivitis and bleeding gums. If you rinse it well, there will be no yellow stains on the teeth.
Soft Bristle Toothbrush
People with sensitive gums should always go for a toothbrush labeled as ‘soft’ or ‘sensitive teeth.’ Medium and firm toothbrushes will prove to be harsh for their gums.
Dentists advise you to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes with a mild manual or electric toothbrush, which is why the type of toothbrush you use matters a great deal. It is necessary to replace your toothbrush every three to four months if its bristles look worn.
Flossing Gently
If you’ve recently started flossing, you must be very gentle while doing so, as you can quickly end up cutting or scratching your gums. This new habit will cause your gums to bleed at first as the gums are not used to the stimulus, but it should stop within a week as you get used to it. Flossing improves gum health over time.
Avoid Smoking
Gum diseases are caused mainly by smoking. Smoking harms your immune system and decreases the body’s capacity to battle the bacteria that unsurprisingly sticks to gums.
If your gums get spoiled, smoking makes it only more challenging for the body to repair its tissues. It’s best to try and quit smoking if you have regular occurrences of gum bleeding. Talk to your dentist and sit and look at other options instead of smoking. It will improve your overall health.
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is an ancient medical practice that involves swishing particular oil in your mouth for about ten to fifteen minutes and then spit it out. It is claimed to whiten your teeth and progress overall health.
The concept behind this is that it helps remove all the bacteria living in your mouth, and once you spit it out, the bacteria is out of your mouth. Oils that have antiseptic properties, such as coconut oil, are widely used for oil pulling.
Sugary Foods
Stay away from processed and sweet foods as consuming them frequently can cause gingivitis and bleeding gums. These starchy foods get stuck to your teeth and turn into sugar, causing gum inflammation, gum bleeding, and a boost in tooth decay.
Prioritize Your Gums
While bleeding gums are a prevalent symptom of dental issues, other issues might be the root cause. If you’re having problems with bleeding gums, it is best not to doubt why it’s happening by going to your dentist in Sacramento, CA.
When to contact a medical professional:
- The bleeding is severe or long-term (chronic)
- Bleeding doesn’t stop even after treatment
- You’re experiencing pain with the bleeding
Regular checkups, routine cleanings, and other preventative dentistry measures can help you maintain healthy oral hygiene. The most acceptable way to avoid gum bleeds and adopt a healthy lifestyle is by working on excellent oral health care and visiting your dentist often.
Your dentist will examine your teeth; ask you where the pain and bleeding occurs. They will then get into the other details, such as your oral care habits, medications, and overall consumption in a day. They can even give you tests such as blood studies – CBC and X-rays of the teeth and jawbone.
Suppose you are affected by any of the symptoms mentioned above. In that case, it is advised to consult your dentist in Sacramento, CA. Or contact Soft Touch and we can offer guidance you on what to do considering your circumstance.
