When you see blood in the sink after brushing you may think it’s normal. Your reaction might be “I brushed too hard, that’s why my gums are bleeding.” And although this may be the case- you should not see blood in your sink every day. Any disturbing changes in your mouth indicate the presence of the disease, especially bleeding gums. If you experience blood after you brush, you should take care to correct it. Otherwise, this problem can lead to tooth loss.
Why do gums start bleeding?
You may suspect why your gum condition has worsened. Still, it's better to consult a dentist, who specializes in periodontics. Here is the full list of reasons, that may cause bleeding of the gums:
- Inflammatory processes in the gums. These are diseases such as gingivitis, periodontitis and periodontal disease. Gingivitis is formed due to inadequate or incorrect oral hygiene, damage to the gums with the prosthesis or the fillings, hormonal disorders, lack of vitamins, and blood diseases. The same causes can lead to periodontitis. Periodontal disease may also occur due to a hereditary predisposition, diabetes mellitus, diseases of the cardiovascular system, and the gastrointestinal tract.
- One-time damage to gum tissue. This may happen because of poor handling of dental floss or a toothpick, too sharp pieces of food, and so on. If you are sure that the reason lies here, take care of the damaged area for several days. Try not to eat solid foods and rinse your mouth each time after meals to prevent inflammatory processes.
- Vitamin deficiency. The oral cavity constantly needs to be supplied with calcium and vitamin C. If you stick to an imbalanced diet, the gums may bleed.
- Exposure to chemicals. Alcohol, drugs, tobacco products can irritate the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and violate blood supply to the gum tissue. Gums do not receive enough nutrition and use bleeding as a signal of their distress.
- Hormonal problems. Any failures in the endocrine system seriously affect almost everything. Either a lack or an excess of hormones slows down the nutrition of gum tissues.
- Bearing a child. Pregnancy is a period of hormonal disruptions and significant changes throughout the body. At this time, you must profoundly take care of your health, including the health of teeth and gums. Inadequate oral care, nutritional deficiencies, and advanced inflammatory processes can cause bleeding of the gums and the development of serious diseases.
Symptoms of inflammatory diseases
Gum bleeding is a “wake-up call” that indicates the onset of the inflammatory process (gingivitis, periodontitis, or periodontal disease). It is possible to detect gingivitis when the following symptoms are also detected:
- edema of the gingival tissue, it either becomes red, or acquires a "bluish" hue;
- pain, increased bleeding during brushing;
- the appearance of an unpleasant odor from the oral cavity;
- the accumulation of soft plaque and hard tartar between gums and teeth.
The development of periodontitis is followed by signs such as:
- The appearance of gingival pockets between gums and teeth, where leftovers of food get stuck. They are quite difficult to clean with conventional means.
- Tooth mobility in inflamed areas.
- Tooth discrepancy, exposure of its neck. Such symptoms occur when periodontitis passes to the stage of periodontal disease.
Treatment of bleeding gums
The first thing you need is to consult a dentist. A specialist can determine the cause of gum bleeding and conduct proper treatment. Your dentist may take measures that include:
- Professional cleaning of the oral cavity, getting rid of soft plaque and tartar.
- Medication for gum disease. If the dentist determines that bleeding has occurred due to gum inflammation, then he can prescribe special rinses. A course of anti-inflammatory drugs may also be prescribed.
- Diet adjustment. To gradually get rid of bleeding gums, it is necessary to cut on acidic, spicy and salty foods, and include a moderate amount of carbohydrates, vitamin C and calcium.
- Teaching you how to do oral hygiene properly. That includes choosing the right toothpaste and a brush.
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