Are Bleeding Gums a Sign of Disease?

You've recently decided to follow your dentist's advice to floss regularly and brush your teeth at least twice a day. Suddenly, you notice blood in the sink. You panic. Have you damaged your gums? You've read about gum disease before - do you have it?? Are you about to lose all your teeth?! Access Dental and Dentures has the best dental clinics in southern Missouri, and we are here to help answer those questions and calm your fears. Keep reading to learn all about how to prevent bleeding gums in the first place, and what it could mean if yours start to bleed. 

Stop Before it Starts

If you haven't experienced bleeding gums, that's great! Keep up the good work and make sure these tips are part of your routine so you don't have bleeding gums in the future. 

Brush & Floss

Good oral hygiene is the number one way to prevent bleeding gums. Keeping your teeth clean and free from plaque allows your gums to avoid painful inflammation and swelling that can lead to bleeding. In order to prevent plaque bacteria and tartar buildup, brush your teeth twice a day, floss regularly, and use a mouthwash. Regular dental care also helps your teeth stay used to being brushed and flossed so they don't get too tender and bleed when you do care for them.

No Smoking

Smoking actually makes it harder for your body's immune system to fight off infection. That means that the bacteria and harmful substances in your mouth can do even more harm than they would in a non-smoker. If bacteria continues to grow and plaque keeps building up, your gums will get more and more inflamed. Eventually they may start bleeding at even the slightest touch due to developing gum disease. 

Balance Your Meals

A balanced, healthy diet is good for your overall health. It can even help promote great oral health and prevent gum bleeding. Increase the amount of vitamin C and K in your diet to help improve your immune system and help your blood clot better. Include these vitamins in your diet with natural foods like oranges, sweet potatoes, red peppers, carrots, and dark leafy greens. Limiting the amount of carbs and sugar in your lifestyle is also very helpful in keeping your teeth healthier. These high-sugar foods and drinks feed the plaque bacteria and allow them to grow further and faster. Green tea is also a great addition to your teeth-healthy diet because it contains an antioxidant that helps lower inflammation.

What if it's Serious? 

Any time your mouth is bleeding, there is the potential of a more serious issue. Sometimes it's just because your teeth aren't used to flossing, but sometimes it could be because of a disease developing in your gums or mouth.

The most common concern when considering gum disease is gingivitis. Its symptoms are inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup at the gum line. It causes your gums to appear swollen and red. Because your gums are so tender and inflamed, they easily bleed when subjected to pressure - even pressure as light as a daily tooth brushing. 

If you notice regular bleeding over a longer period of time (7-10 days) during your daily dental hygiene routine, it might be time to talk to your local dentist. 

The Best Missouri Dentist

If you need help identifying why your gums are bleeding, Access Dental and Dentures is always here to help! We have several convenient locations where you can stop in for a checkup and get the best dental care in Missouri! Give us a call to schedule your next appointment - we can't wait to help you! 1-877-DENTIST

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile! 

1-877-DENTIST

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Are Bleeding Gums Serious?

Every now and then, you may notice that your gums have started bleeding while you're flossing, or maybe even during a regular tooth brushing. Is this cause for alarm? Access Dental and Dentures is the best dentist in Southeast Missouri and we are here to help answer your questions about gum health and what it could mean if yours are bleeding. Keep reading to learn more!

Bad Brushing

Bleeding gums could simply be caused by bad, or incorrect, brushing techniques. If you tend to brush your teeth very hard with a hard-bristled toothbrush, then it could simply mean that you are being too aggressive and need to pull back a bit. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush in gentle circles to avoid causing damage to your gums while brushing. 

You could also be on the other end of the spectrum and not be brushing your teeth often enough. If you tend to forget to brush your teeth often, then when you do start to take care of your teeth again, they may have become sensitive. They won't be used to your brushing and that could be the reason for the bleeding. 

For healthier brushing habits, be sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush at least two times a day with a steady, circular motion that doesn't wear on your gums. 

Gum Disease

A more serious cause of bleeding gums would be the gum disease gingivitis. This is actually a fairly common condition that causes inflammation in the gums due to plaque buildup at the gumline. Your gums will appear swollen and redder near the base of your tooth. If you have this condition, then any type of pressure - even proper tooth brushing - can cause your gums to bleed. It is important to seek medical, dental attention if you have developed gum disease. 

When to Contact Your Dentist

A little bit of blood from your gums is not always a bad thing. It could just mean that you've picked flossing back up after a long break and your teeth aren't accustomed to it yet. But, if you are regularly noticing blood in the sick every day - especially if you also notice pain or swelling in your gums - then it is probably time to call your local dentist. Access Dental and Dentures is the best local dentist, and we would be happy to help you find out what is causing your gum issues and help fix them!

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile! 

1-877-DENTIST

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Like us on Facebook

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Why Do Gums Bleed?

Are you noticing red in the sink when you brush your teeth? Before you panic, know that there are several reasons this could be happening and a lot of them can be remedied with proper care, diet, and lifestyle. As the best dentists in the Springfield area, Access Dental and Dentures has the information you need to see if your bleeding gums are more than meets the eye. For a professional diagnosis, schedule an appointment at one of our many offices near you!

Causes

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is a gum disease that is quite common. Its symptoms are inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup at the gumline. It causes your gums to appear swollen and red. Because your gums are so tender and inflamed, they easily bleed when subjected to pressure - even pressure as light as a daily tooth brushing.

Aggressive Brushing

If you have a hard-bristled brush or use too much force when brushing your teeth, that could be the cause of your bleeding gums. Take good care of your gums by using a soft-bristled toothbrush and taking care to not wear down your gum line with forceful brushing. Using an electric toothbrush may help this effort since it takes care of a lot of the brushing work for you!

New Flossing Habit

If you recently started flossing after not regularly practicing the habit for some time, it could cause your gums to bleed. If your gums are tender and sensitive, then the force of flossing could aggravate them slightly until they have had time to get more used to the process.

Preventive Tips!

Oral hygiene

Help prevent bleeding gums by practicing good oral hygiene. Keeping your teeth clean and free from plaque allows your gums to avoid painful inflammation and swelling that can lead to bleeding. Help prevent plaque bacteria and tartar buildup by brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing regularly, and using a mouthwash.

Stop smoking

Smoking reduces your body’s ability to mount an immune response to fight off viruses and bacteria. This can mean that the plaque bacteria on your teeth will continue to grow more rapidly than it would in a non-smoker.

Healthy Diet

A balanced, healthy diet is good for your overall health. It can even help promote great oral health and prevent gum bleeding. Increase the amount of vitamin C and K in your diet to help improve your immune system and help your blood clot better. Include these vitamins in your diet with natural foods like oranges, sweet potatoes, red peppers, carrots, and dark leafy greens. Limiting the amount of carbs and sugar in your lifestyle is also very helpful in keeping your teeth healthier. These high-sugar substances feed the plaque bacteria and allow it to grow further and faster. Green tea is also a great addition to your teeth-healthy diet as it contains an antioxidant that helps lower your inflammatory response.

When to Contact Your Dentist

If you have noticed blood in the sink and none of the helpful habits above have helped, it may be time to see your dentist. If it has been 7-10 days, it could be beneficial to have a professional, deep dental cleaning of the plaque and tartar buildup that has been occurring over time. Call Access Dental to schedule yours!

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile! 

1-877-DENTIST

Visit our Website
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Connect with us on LinkedIn