What to Do If Your Gums Start Bleeding

What to Do If Your Gums Start Bleeding

Many people, when thinking about their dental health, will concentrate on the condition of their teeth, but it is just as important to care for your gums. Healthy gums protect your teeth, and they also have a vital role to play in overall health. If you notice your gums have begun bleeding, it’s crucial not to ignore this symptom.

Often, bleeding and swollen gums are a common sign of gum disease, but other things could cause your gums to bleed. Whatever the reason, you can act now to reduce the damage to your gums and to protect your teeth.

Review Your Brushing Technique

It’s possible that in a quest to keep your teeth sparkling clean that you are brushing them too hard. When you brush your teeth vigorously, you can damage your gums, potentially causing bleeding and even gum recession. Regardless of whether you prefer using a manual or electric toothbrush, make sure it has soft or medium bristles and don’t use too much pressure as you brush. Instead, use small, gentle circular motions to clean your teeth thoroughly and massage your gums. When it comes to flossing your teeth, and don’t force the dental floss between your teeth in case it damages your gum tissue.

Gum Disease

Unfortunately, many people have some form of gum disease or will develop this common condition during their lifetime. Mild gum disease is called gingivitis; it is curable with the right dental care. However, some people develop a much more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis.

If you know your oral care routine is a little lax, you may well have developed gum disease in Oshawa. When people fail to clean their teeth properly, bacteria naturally present in the mouth form plaque over tooth surfaces. Dental plaque contains bacteria that infect and inflame your gums, resulting in gums that bleed easily and which look red and swollen. One problem with gingivitis is that it doesn’t cause any pain, so the symptoms are easy to ignore. Without treatment, gingivitis can soon worsen and could even lead to tooth loss.

When gingivitis develops into periodontitis, it gradually destroys gum and bone around your teeth. Equally serious, the bacteria that cause this infection can get into your bloodstream via your bleeding gums. Once inside your bloodstream, these bacteria can go on to create new sites of inflammation around your body. The bacteria that are known to cause gum disease are associated with other serious health problems, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and respiratory diseases.

When to Ask a Dental Professional for Help?

If you are worried about your gums, see a dentist in Whitby, even if you don’t notice any pain or discomfort. Symptoms can include:

  • Bleeding gums after or during tooth brushing
  • Red or swollen gums that might feel tender when pressed lightly
  • A nasty taste or persistent bad breath
  • Gum recession so that teeth to look longer than before
  • Tooth movement or teeth that have begun to feel loose
  • Changes to the way your teeth fit together

Our experienced and gentle dentists at Margolian Dentistry can soon diagnose any signs of gum disease in Ajax and provide suitable treatment. If you see us when you only have mild gingivitis, our hygienist can clean your teeth professionally.

We can also review your oral care routine at home so you can take the necessary steps to improve it. Following this improved routine will quickly help to strengthen your gums, and the bleeding should cease within a few weeks. If you have periodontitis, we can provide more advanced treatments for this disease, hopefully preventing tooth loss while protecting your dental and overall health.

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