Bleeding gums
If your gums bleed
easily It might be because of brushing your teeth too vigorously or wearing
dentures that don’t fit correctly or it could be a sign of a health condition
you need to check out.
What are Bleeding Gums?
Bleeding gums are the most common symptom of gum disease,
but it can also point to other health problems. If you have gingivitis, your
gums may be irritated, red, and swollen, they may bleed when you brush your
teeth. It can also be a sign of a serious medical condition.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis occurs
when the plaque stays on the gum lines for a long time and produces toxins that
irritate the gums. If plaque is not removed, it can freeze in calcification (calculusming hard calculus and getting gingivitis, but plaque may remain on the gum line, if you do not brush),
which increases bleeding. Cleaning your teeth removes plaque and
can prevent you from for and floss properly.
Symptoms of Gingivitis Include:
- Puffy gums.
- Soreness in the mouth and
around the gums.
- Bleeding gums.
Common Causes of Bleeding Gums Include:
- Not brushing the teeth often enough, or at least twice
a day.
- Using
a toothbrush that is too hard or isn't soft enough.
- Using
a frayed, worn toothbrush that no longer cleans effectively.
- Wrong
use of dental floss,, instead of gently pushing it down and hugging the
sides of each tooth.
- Taking
certain medicines, such as aspirin, blood thinners, or ibuprofen.
- Unfitting
dentures or other dental appliances.
- Pregnancy
commonly causes of gum bleeding, hormonal changes that occur during
pregnancy can cause the gums to be more sensitive.
- Infection,
which can be either in a tooth or the gum.
Frequent gum bleeding
can also indicate more serious conditions, including:
- Plaque
- periodontitis
(late-stage gum infections)
- vitamin
deficiency
- lack
of clotting cells (platelets)
- leukemia
- Diabetes
Plaque
The buildup of plaque at the gum line. This will lead to
increased bleeding and a more advanced form of gum and jaw bone disease.
Periodontitis
If you don't take care of your gingivitis, it may develop,
and lead to gingivitis, or periodontitis, which is a long-term gum condition
that damages the tissue and bone that support your teeth and gums.
Periodontitis can cause your teeth to loosen or fall out. your gums may become
inflamed and infected and pull away from the roots of your teeth. If you
don't treat periodontal disease, you can lose some of your teeth.
Vitamin Deficiency
vitamin deficiency can also cause gums to bleed
easily, including:
Lack of
Vitamin C
This vitamin helps your tissue grow and repair. It heals
wounds and strengthens your bones and teeth. If your body doesn't have
enough vitamin C, you may feel weak and irritable. Over time, you can also get
swollen and bleeding gums.
Scurvy
It's rare, but a severe shortage of vitamin C in your body
can lead to scurvy, a disease related to poor nutrition. It can make you weak,
cause anemia, and lead to bleeding under your skin. Bleeding gums are a typical
sign of scurvy.
Lack of
Vitamin K
This vitamin helps
your blood clot properly. It's also good for your bones. If you don't get
enough through your diet or your body doesn't absorb it well, it can cause
bleeding problems.
Lack of
Clotting Cells (Platelets)
Also known as
Thrombocytopenia, it happens if your gums bleed when you brush your teeth and
it doesn't stop on its own, If you have this condition, your body may not have
enough platelets to form a blood clot. That can lead to too much bleeding in
different parts of your body, including your gums.
Leukemia
Leukemia, is a type
of blood cancer. Your blood platelets help your body stop bleeding. If you have
leukemia, your platelet count is low. That makes it harder for you to stop
bleeding in different parts of your body, including your gums.
Diabetes
Bleeding or swollen
gums can be a warning sign of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. When you have
this disease, your mouth isn't as powerful at fighting germs, so you're more
likely to get infections like gum disease. High blood sugar levels that go
along with diabetes make it harder for your body to heal, which can make gum
disease worse.
How to Stop Your Gums from Bleeding?
There are many factors can cause bleeding gums as we
mentioned earlier. Identifying the cause of bleeding gums is key to determining
the most appropriate treatment. Once you know the cause, you can choose
possible ways to stop the bleeding, including:
Apply Pressure
If you’re bleeding
you can apply pressure with a clean cloth or gauze. It doesn’t matter what type
of cloth you use for a compress as long as it’s clean. If blood seeps
through, don’t remove the compress. Removing it too soon may increase bleeding
by breaking open a blood clot that’s forming. Instead, add more of whatever
type of compress you’re using, and continue to apply pressure. Apply
pressure to the wound for 5 to 10 minutes before checking to see if bleeding
has slowed or stopped. If it hasn’t, apply pressure for five more minutes. If
bleeding still hasn’t stopped, call your doctor for advice.
Applying
Ice
Applying ice to a
bleeding wound, especially in the mouth, is a popular home remedy to stop
bleeding. It also helps reduce swelling. However, little scientific research
exists to support the remedy. An older study found bleeding time was longer the
higher your body temperature. On the other hand, the lower your body
temperature, the slower the blood clotting time.
Using Mouthwash
Antibacterial
mouthwashes can both treat and prevent bleeding gums. They kill bacteria and
reduce inflammation to soothe sore, swollen, and bleeding gums. but don’t
swallow the solution.
Apply a
Cold Compress
Bleeding gums aren’t
always caused by gum disease. Your gums may also bleed from trauma or an injury
to the gum tissue.
A cold compress
applied to the gum line can reduce swelling and restrict blood flow to stop
bleeding. Ice packs are especially helpful to soothe minor mouth injuries
that cause swelling, such as cuts and scrapes. They can also help reduce pain
and swelling caused by gingivitis.
Rinse Your
Mouth with a Warm Salt Water
Because bacteria and
inflammation in the mouth cause gum disease, regularly rinsing your mouth with
a mixture of warm salt water may also reduce bacteria and stop gum bleeding. If bleeding is from
an injury or trauma, rinsing with a saltwater mixture also keeps your mouth
clean and removes bacteria that could cause wound infection.
Using
Tea
A popular remedy to
stop bleeding after dental work is to apply a wet tea bag to the affected area.
It’s thought the tannins in tea promote blood clotting and have astringent
abilities.
Tips to Prevent Sore, Swollen, and Bleeding Gums
- Good dental hygiene is the first step to managing bleeding gums.
- Bleeding gums may be a sign of poor dental hygiene. And if you don’t brush or floss enough, the bacteria can spread and cause tooth decay or gum disease.
- Visit your dentist twice per year for professional cleaning
- Use a soft toothbrush. It’ll be gentle on inflamed gums, especially if you experience bleeding after brushing your teeth.
- Floss daily, it is the most important thing you can do to prevent gum problems now and in the future.
- Rinse with mouthwash daily. An antiseptic mouthwash kills bacteria that cause gum disease.
- Eat a well-balanced diet. A balanced diet, including plenty of vitamin C and calcium, may minimize the likelihood you'll have gum problems.
- Ask your doctor to check your levels of vitamins C and K if you have bleeding gums that aren’t caused by improper dental care. Also, follow a diet that contains both nutrients to ensure you’re getting the vitamins you need to stay healthy.
- Eat fewer carbs. Research Trusted Source has found that reducing your carbohydrate intake may also improve gum health and prevent gum disease. Carbohydrates and sugary foods encourage plaque and the growth of bacteria. The more plaque accumulated on your gums, the more likely you are to have bleeding gums. Although brushing and flossing regularly can reduce this buildup, cutting back on carbs helps prevent plaque formation
- Drink plenty of water. Drinking water, especially after eating, can help wash food off your teeth and make it less likely that bacteria will form gum-damaging plaque.
- Drink green tea. Green tea contains catechin, a natural antioxidant that can lower the body’s inflammatory response to bacteria in the mouth.
- If you smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products, try to quit. smoking is linked to gum disease. Smoking can lower your body’s immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off plaque bacteria. This can lead to gum disease. Quitting smoking can help your gums heal and stop bleeding.
- Be cautious about extremely hot or cold foods and drinks. When you have gum problems, you may find you're more comfortable having lukewarm or cool foods and beverages.
- Reduce the stress level (Relax). According to the researchers, emotional stress has a negative impact on the immune system and raises levels of the stress hormone cortisol, increasing the likelihood of inflammation throughout your body, including in your gums.
- See a dentist if gum bleeding doesn’t improve within 7 to 10 days.