Bleeding Gums

Bleeding gums is a common complaint that can occur with brushing or flossing and can often go undiagnosed until it is too late to cure. Healthy gums don’t bleed and so it is a sign that there is gum disease, an infection or an injury to your teeth. Gum disease, often called a silent disease develops when bleeding gums are neglected.

If you have bleeding gums, it is important to seek professional dental care early, because when the cause is diagnosed the condition is easily treated.

Symptoms of gum disease:

• Bleeding, red or swollen gums
• Gums that may be tender to touch and or having  sensitive  teeth
• Bad breath

If you have some or all of the above symptoms then you could have gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease.

Other reasons why this condition might develop:

• Having medications that can thin the blood, thus increasing the chances of bleeding gums
• Having a clotting disorder or other blood disorder
• Hormonal changes especially during pregnancy, can increase the sensitivity of gum tissues to bacteria thus causing gums to bleed
• Being deficient in certain vitamins
• Having ill-fitting dental appliances such as braces or dentures
• Having mouth ulcers or sores
• Having certain medical conditions that affect your immune system like diabetes
• Mouth breathing due to allergies, blocked nasal passages or snoring.

Treating Bleeding Gums:

• If you have gingivitis, treatment will aim at removing infection from your gums so that they would heal themselves. This is done by removing the build-up of plaque from your teeth.

• If you have plaque, treatment will involve scaling and polishing.

Plaque is the sticky layer of biofilm caused by bacteria and this can be removed with regular brushing and flossing. If there is a presence of plaque and is allowed to remain on the surfaces of the teeth for a period of time, it develops into tartar or calculus. How quickly  tartar or calculus form, depend on the individual risk factors. It could form in a few days in susceptible people.  Scaling and polishing at regular dental check-ups by a hygienist or dentist can remove these deposits of tartar. Meticulous home care combined with professional dental cleans will help expedite the removal of infection and will result in cleaner and healthier teeth and gums.

• If your gums are bleeding due to other factors such as your dental appliances, your dentist will make sure they fit correctly and show you the proper techniques for brushing and flossing.
• If you are experiencing hormonal changes as in pregnancy, you may need to take additional dental care during this time.
•  People with diabetes should also have regular check-ups with the dentist to prevent gum disease from developing. This is because diabetes increases the chances of developing gum disease.

To get a proper diagnosis for your bleeding gums and a treatment tailored to your needs book an appointment with our dentist at The Dental Gallery in Point Cook today.