The most familiar reason for bleeding gums is gum disease. However, bleeding gums can also indicate other health issues. For example, occasionally brushing teeth aggressively also result in bleeding gums, besides wearing ill-fitting dentures. Sadly frequent bleeding gums indicate severe conditions, including periodontitis, leukemia, vitamin deficiency, and a lack of platelets.
Dental Issues Resulting in Bleeding Gums
The primary cause of bleeding gums is dental care issues. In addition, gingivitis causes inflammation of the gums, and periodontitis increases sensitivity in your gums to make them bleed.
You can develop gingivitis if you allow plaque to remain on your gum line without brushing it off appropriately. Dental plaque is full of bacteria and debris that accumulates on your teeth. Brushing your teeth appropriately helps remove plaque and prevents cavities. However, if plaque remains on your gum line, it hardens into tartar within 48 hours when you don’t brush and floss correctly.
If you have hardened tartar on your gum line, it results in gingivitis to leave you with puffy and bleeding gums besides mouth and gum soreness. Removing tartar is challenging at home by brushing or flossing and needs teeth cleaning in Tuscaloosa from the dentist to prevent the condition from worsening.
If you allow gingivitis to progress, it eventually advances to periodontitis to infect your gums and jawbone. The supporting tissues connecting your teeth to your gums are also affected. Periodontitis also causes bleeding gums besides loosening your teeth and causing them to fall out.
Alternative Reasons for Bleeding Gums
If you wear dentures, you might experience bleeding gums, especially if the prosthetics fit tightly in your mouth. In such situations, you must discuss your condition with the dentist near me if the oral appliance causes bleeding. The dentist might take new impressions to create better-fitting dentures to provide relief from the problem.
Women might encounter bleeding gums if they are pregnant because of hormonal changes occurring during pregnancy. The hormonal changes cause gums to become sensitive. In such conditions, an appointment with the dentist in Tuscaloosa proves beneficial because the professional can advise remedial measures for the problem.
Besides the problems mentioned above, you might experience bleeding gums without brushing, especially if you take blood-thinning medications like aspirin and others for various health conditions. In addition, bleeding disorders like leukemia and hemophilia also enhance your risk of bleeding gums.
Treating Bleeding Gums
If you intend to treat bleeding gums, maintaining excellent dental hygiene is the first step. You must visit your dentist twice yearly for professional cleaning without exceptions. Your dentist can detect signs of gingivitis and provide tips on brushing and flossing your teeth correctly. Brushing and flossing correctly helps remove plaque on and between your teeth, reducing your chances of allowing gingivitis to advance into periodontitis.
Your dentist might also advise and demonstrate using an antiseptic mouthwash to constantly minimize plaque accumulating in your mouth. If necessary, you can add warm salt water rinses to help soothe the gums that bleed easily.
When requesting treatment for bleeding gums, the dentist suggests you use a soft-bristled toothbrush, especially if you experience bleeding after brushing your teeth. With gingivitis, your gums become inflamed and irritated if you use medium or hard bristles. Therefore it helps if you adhere to your dentist’s advice to ensure you don’t encourage bleeding gums by using inappropriate tools or ignoring their advice.
You can also consider using an electric toothbrush because the specially designed brush heads on these tools help clean your gum line more comfortably than a manual toothbrush.
Bleeding gums are generally associated with dental issues like gum disease. However, other problems can also result in bleeding gums. If you experience gum bleeding, you must schedule an appointment with your primary healthcare provider to assess whether your dental health is the underlying cause of your bleeding gums or if you are affected by other issues. You might need a physical exam and bloodwork to determine why the bleeding occurs. The treatment provided varies according to your underlying condition and is recommended by your healthcare provider or your dentist to ensure the bleeding stops with the treatment they provide.
If you are worried about your bleeding gums and find it challenging to determine the cause, an examination by contacting Dental Care South can help you ascertain the reasons to help you receive appropriate treatment for the condition. Kindly consult with the practice and receive treatment without delay.