If you notice a little bit of blood when you brush or floss your teeth, pay attention to whether or not this recurs or continues. Recurrent bleeding gums are often a sign of gum disease, which requires dental treatment. The good news is that gum disease can often be reversed when intercepted early, and treatment is pretty straightforward. In fact, with twice-yearly dental checkups and professional cleanings, combined with an effective home hygiene routine, gum disease can be prevented entirely. When gum disease is allowed to progress, on the other hand, the oral tissues are gradually destroyed by infection, eventually leading to tooth and bone loss. Clearly, it’s important to seek dental attention if you notice that your gums are bleeding frequently or chronically; prompt dental intervention can make a major difference in long-term oral health outcomes.
If your gums are bleeding due to an injury or some type of facial trauma, seek medical attention right away. If the injury is localized to the teeth, call an emergency dentist, and if the injury is more extensive, or if an emergency dentist is unavailable, go to the emergency room. Applying a cold compress to the gums can help relieve discomfort and staunch blood flow while you wait for medical attention. It’s also common for the gums to continue to bleed for a day or two following some dental treatments, and cold compresses can also help in these cases. An ice pack or cold cloth, applied to the gums in twenty minute increments, can soothe swelling and reduce blood flow and discomfort. Rinsing your mouth with saltwater can also help soothe bleeding gums, reducing blood flow while also reducing bacteria in the oral cavity, which can help prevent wounds in the mouth from becoming infected.
If your gums bleed when you’re brushing or flossing and this continues for more than a week to ten days, call your dentist. They will evaluate the situation, deep cleaning the teeth if gum disease is present and providing appropriate referrals if the bleeding gums have a different cause. Once the inflammation of gum disease has been treated, you and your dentist can discuss ways to reduce the risk of developing bleeding, diseased gums in the future. The first step you can take to prevent gum disease is brushing your teeth twice daily, using a soft brush and effective technique, along with gently yet thoroughly flossing your teeth daily. These hygiene habits, combined with semi-annual visits to the dentist for examinations and cleanings, can go a long way in reducing the risk of bleeding gums and gum disease.
Some medical conditions, dietary choices, and habits can affect the integrity of the body’s tissues and increase the likelihood of bleeding gums. If you’re pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, make sure to let your dentist know, as dramatic hormone fluctuations could encourage gum disease, and additional care and monitoring will be recommended. If you smoke, tell your dentist, and consider quitting; smoking is a notable contributor to bleeding gums and gum disease, along with the multitude of other health concerns it causes. Reducing stress levels and maintaining a balanced diet, full of multicolored, fresh fruits and vegetables and low in refined carbohydrates, can also help reduce the risk of gum disease and keep your gums from starting to bleed in the first place.