Normal, healthy gums should appear pink and supple, with the gum tissue comfortably hugging the bases of the teeth in an even gum line. If you notice that there’s anything different about your gums, take note of this. If your gums appear swollen or red, or if they bleed when you floss or brush your teeth, pay attention to the duration of these symptoms. Sometimes, inflammation or bleeding in the gums is temporary, perhaps caused by an irritant or minor trauma to the tissue. If you notice these symptoms frequently, however, or if bleeding at the gums continues for more than a week or two, call your dentist. The issue may not be serious in an emergency sense, but the potential outcomes of leaving bleeding gums unaddressed could be disastrous in the long term.
Sometimes, people’s gums bleed because of a medical condition, vitamin deficiency, or other systemic cause. If your gums bleed chronically and your dentist has ruled out gum disease, see your primary care provider. They may run blood tests to assess your levels of certain vitamins and blood clotting factors, and they can continue with evaluation and treatment based on these results. In many cases, treating the underlying condition causes the gums to stop bleeding, and dental treatment repairs any issues that arose as a result of the temporarily compromised condition of the oral cavity.
More often than not, however, bleeding gums are a sign of gum disease. Gum disease is characterized by inflammation in the gums and is caused by the accumulation of bacterial plaque on the teeth, just below the gum line. Most plaque can be removed with brushing and flossing, but plaque that’s left behind hardens and turns into tartar. As tartar accumulates at the gum line, the gums become increasingly irritated and inflamed, gradually pulling farther and farther away from the teeth. This creates a breeding ground for additional infection and slowly destroys the connective tissues that hold the teeth in place. Over time, the teeth fall out; after the teeth have fallen out, the bone in the jaw begins to deteriorate from lack of use. Thankfully, bleeding while brushing or flossing is often one of the first signs of gum disease, which can be treated successfully and thoroughly when diagnosed and intercepted early. So, if you notice any bleeding while you're brushing or flossing, seeing your dentist sooner than later could make a difference in keeping your teeth and maintaining the structure of your jaw and face.
While you’re waiting to see your dentist, you might find relief from discomfort associated with bleeding gums by rinsing the mouth with warm salt water, or by applying a cold compress or ice pack to the gums for a few minutes. If bleeding is interfering with your regular activity, a gauze compress applied to the bleeding area can help keep the bleeding in check. Following treatment, your dentist might provide specific instructions for maintenance, perhaps recommending specific cleaning tools, medicated mouth rinse, or special toothpaste to help reduce the recurrence of bleeding gums and maintain the health of the gums, teeth, and oral cavity.