picture of healthy teeth and gums
Do you
ever notice bleeding when brushing or flossing your teeth? Maybe you have
noticed your child's mouth bleeds when he/she is brushing or flossing. Though, there are several reasons your gums may be bleeding (some
even being indicators of a serious condition) I will mostly be
discussing dental reasons your gums are bleeding.
picture of unhealthy gums
After the age of 25, the
leading cause of tooth loss is, surprisingly, not due to cavities but, instead,
gum disease. So, what causes gum disease? The initial cause of gum disease is
inadequate removal of plaque from teeth and gums. As this sticky film (plaque) sits on
your teeth it irritates the surrounding tissue (gums or gingiva). Once the irritation
begins and goes untreated it then turns into inflammation and results in an
infection. This infection is called gingivitis with one side effect being
bleeding. If the infection continues to go untreated it will most likely turn
into periodontitis (inflammation of the tissue around the teeth, often causing
shrinkage of the gums and loosening of the teeth).
Here are
a few common reasons your gums may be bleeding:
•
inadequate
removal of plaque from teeth and gums
•
hormone
changes
•
family
history
•
trauma
or injury
•
smoking
•
drug
use
•
some
types of cancer
Luckily,
if caught early, the effects of gum disease can usually be reversed. Some ways
to help reduce bleeding and the progression of gum disease are:
•
brush
and floss daily (preferably 3 times a day)
•
rinse
your mouth daily with Listerine (or other oral antiseptic)
•
6
months cleanings at your dentist's office
•
cut
back on sugars
•
use
a soft bristled toothbrush
It
can take up to a month to stop the bleeding all together and your gums may even
become irritated in the beginning, but soon you should notice the bleeding has
stopped. However, if the bleeding continues, you may also want to seek an opinion from your dentists.
-Chalice, RDA
www.smileteam4u.com
