Blood appearing regularly on the bristles of your toothbrush isn't something you should ignore because it could be a sign of an underlying gum problem that needs immediate treatment from a dentist. Ignoring your bleeding gums could lead to bigger oral problems in the future, so it's always best to get a dentist to examine your teeth as soon as possible. Here are some probable reasons and solutions for dealing with bleeding gums.
You're Suffering From Gingivitis
When cavity-causing bacteria and plaque builds up on your teeth, your gums will become inflamed. This inflammation of the gums will make them extra sensitive, which ultimately leads to gingivitis. Because this condition is virtually symptom-free and painless, it is easy to miss it until your gums start to bleed regularly. If ignored, gingivitis will ultimately lead to tooth loss and destruction of your gum tissue. Good oral hygiene and a teeth cleaning session at the dentist will remove plaque and will prevent the occurrence of bleeding gums through gingivitis.
You're A Regular Smoker
Inhaling smoke will leave difficult-to-remove toxins on teeth even if you floss and brush regularly. These toxins will lead to periodontal disease and bleeding gums over time thanks to increased aggravation and inflammation in the gum region. Your bleeding gum problem should be easy to tackle if you quit smoking. Your gums and body will thank you. If your bleeding gum problem continues to persist, be sure to visit a dentist immediately to get to the root cause.
Your Diet Is Nutritionally Poor
A well balanced diet is pivotal to a healthy body and healthy gums. While brushing your teeth is vital to good oral hygiene, eating certain types of vegetables, fruits, dairy and protein will help to prevent inflammation of your gums. For example, the crunchiness of apples creates a cleansing action to remove gum-clinging plaque from teeth. Similarly, calcium-rich foods like milk, cheese and yoghurt will help to strengthen your gums. These dairy products also produce a protein called casein. Casein can help to reduce acid levels and gum inflammation in the mouth to prevent bleeding gums. Make sure you replace nutritionally poor diets with well balanced diets for better oral hygiene and overall health.
You're Taking Certain Medication
A dentist will usually ask you whether you're taking certain medications on any visit because some prescription drugs will lead to gum inflammations and bleeding gums. For example, certain anticonvulsants, anti-depressants, sedatives, antihistamines, blood pressure pills and anti-psychotics can reduce the saliva flow in your mouth. Saliva helps to wash away food and neutralises gum-irritating bacteria. Lack of proper saliva flow will trigger gum bleeding problems eventually. Your dentist will recommend a proper course of action based on your specific issue.
If you suffer from any of these bleeding gum reasons, be sure to visit a dentist immediately.
Share16 December 2015
When I had my first child, I was a nervous wreck. Every book I read gave different advice, and I just wanted to be right! By the time I had my third child, some of the stress had abated. I now realised, there were tons of different perspectives on everything related to raising children including dentistry. To help parents, I have created this blog dedicated to unraveling dental myths about children. I am including posts that weigh both sides of issues such as thumb sucking, dental caries, breastfeeding, flossing and any other topic I can think of. I hope you find the information you need to unravel dental myths, but most importantly, I hope you find some peace of mind. With kids and dentistry, there can be more than one right answer, and I want you to be able to relax and go with the answer that's right for you.
