If your gums tend to bleed every time you eat, brush your teeth, or simply chew gum, you may be suffering from a serious problem and it should not be ignored. Bleeding gums can be a side effect of one or more of the following problems:
• Gingivitis: Gingivitis is a dangerous disease that causes your gums to swell and bleed. This condition generally develops when the plaque on your teeth continues to reside for a long amount of time. The plaque will continue to grow and then it will irritate your gums, making them swollen and bloody when you brush your teeth. If this condition is not treated, it could advance into a later stage of the disease, which could eventually result in loose and lost teeth. The best way to prevent and treat this disease is by attending your dental checkups.
• Flossing: Flossing can make your gums bleed, but that’s only if you are rough around the gum line or if you do not floss very often. If you refrain from flossing often, your gums will become tender and sensitive. Therefore, they will bleed each time you floss because your gums are not familiar with the technique. So, the best thing to do is floss your teeth every day.
• Brushing: Sometimes brushing extremely hard with a new toothbrush can cause your gums to bleed. If this happens, try to be softer as you brush. This will prevent the bleeding.
• Using tobacco products: If you have a smoking habit, your gums are in major danger. Smoking makes you extremely vulnerable to gum disease and painful sores. The only ways to treat these issues as well as prevent them is to stop smoking. If you need help kicking the habit, you can ask your dentist for help.
There are other things that can also cause bleeding gums, like canker sores, hormones, and chemotherapy. No matter the reason for your bleeding gums, we strongly recommend that you come into our office for treatment. That way if the problem is severe, it will get treated right away. For more information about bleeding gums, call our office today! We are happy to help you.