What are bleeding gums

Bleeding gums are one of the most common signs of gum disease.

Bleeding of the gums can be caused by brushing too hard, or not brushing enough!

If your gums bleed a lot it could be a sign of

  • periodontitis (severe gum disease)
  • leukaemia(cancer)
  • vitamin deficiency

What dental problems cause bleeding gums?

Gingivitis

People develop gingivitis when tartar and plaque build-up their teeth and gums.

Proper teeth brushing (and flossing) removes most plaque and can prevent you from developing fillings. But plaque can still build up on the gum line.

Plaque can harden into tartar, which will cause inflamed gums / gingivitis.

Symptoms of gingivitis are :

  • puffy red gums
  • sore gums
  • bloody gums

Periodontitis

Periodontal disease occurs when gingivitis becomes serious. Periodontal disease is a severe infection of the gums & jaws. Periodontitis can lead to your teeth falling out!

Vitamin deficiencies

A lack of Vitamin C & K can cause bleeding gums.

Your GP can check if you are deficient and suggest dietary changes.

High vitamin C food:

  • Lemon, oranges & limes
  • broccoli
  • strawberries
  • tomatoes
  • potatoes
  • bell peppers

High vitamin K food:

  • kale & spinach
  • lettuce
  • olive oil

Other causes of gum disease

Poorly fitting dentures can sometimes lead to sore & sore gums. Usually when they fit too tightly.

Hormonal  changes during pregnancy often causes of gum bleeding.

Haemophilia and leukaemia can also increase your risk of inflamed gums. Your GP will talk to you about this.

 

Treating bleeding gums

Proper dental hygiene is the first step to treating bleeding gums.

You should visit your Plaza Health dentist twice per year for professional teeth and gum cleaning. Our dentist will let you know if you have gum disease and show you how to brush your teeth properly. Good brushing and flossing can remove plaque from your teeth and gums, so protecting your gums.

Our Plaza Health dentist may give advice on using an antiseptic mouthwash to treat inflamed gums.

We recommend using a soft toothbrush, harder bristles are often too abrasive for your delicate gums.

It’s a good idea to use an electric toothbrush. These toothbrushes can help you to clean your gum line more easily than a manual toothbrush.

Summary

While bleeding gums are a sign of gum disease there can be other causes.

Schedule an appointment with the Plaza health dentist to determine why your gums are bleeding.

A dental examination will help identify the cause of your bleeding.

Inflamed gums can often lead to bad breath and tooth loss, so don’t delay.

let’s talk about your gum health at plaza health…

Ready to take the next step? Our Dentist at Plaza Health in the heart of Dublin City Centre are here to help.

Book a consultation today.

You can book online or give us a call on 01 444 0709