Many people will experience bleeding gums when they brush their teeth. Bleeding gums can be an early indication of gum disease, or other dental problem, and a consultation with the family dentist is often required if the bleeding is prolonged, or occurs regularly.
For some, bleeding gums may be occasional, and may occur simply as a result of brushing too hard and scrubbing the teeth, rather than the recommended gentle, circular brushing motions. Cleaning teeth with the wrong firmness of brush can also cause gums to bleed. However, in these instances, gums should only bleed a little amount before stopping.
If the bleeding is heavier, lasts for a period of time before stopping, or occurs every time you brush your teeth, then the chances of underlying dental problems being the cause is much more likely. Gum disease is characterized first by bleeding gums, and gum disease – also called periodontitis – is the leading cause of tooth decay and loss in adults in America.
Gum disease is most often caused by a build up of plaque and tartar, which spreads below the gum line; untreated, gum disease can attack and destroy the patient’s jaw bone and gum tissue which support and hold the teeth in place.
If caught early, however, bleeding gums can be successfully treated by the family dentist. Gum disease is most often caused by a build up of plaque and tartar, which spreads below the gum line; untreated, gum disease can attack and destroy the patient’s jaw bone and gum tissue which support and hold the teeth in place.
Early stage gum disease, known as gingivitis, can often be treated simply by maintaining a good dental health regimen involving regular brushing and flossing, and the use of a good anti-bacterial mouthwash. Keeping up with visits to the dentist is also recommended to ensure any dental problems are identified in their infancy and so can be treated successfully before any lasting damage is done.
More advanced gum disease will require the intervention of the dentist, and often includes a deep cleaning procedure where the dentist, or dental hygienist, works with special equipment to remove plaque and tartar from the surface of the teeth and below the gum line.
The longer the patient waits to have issues of bleeding gums – and the possibility of gum disease – addressed, the more difficult it can be to treat successfully. Add in the medical links between periodontal disease and body systemic ailments such as strokes and heart disease, and it shows that prolonged bleeding from the gums should be a cause for concern.
