Bleeding Gums

Bleeding Gums can be annoying, embarrassing and down-right uncomfortable. While it may be common to experience a little bit of bleeding while flossing or brushing your teeth, it's important to keep an eye on it, especially if the bleeding gets heavier and more frequent. Not to mention, there are a number of dental issues that could be causing your gums to bleed and most of them can become pretty serious.

Gum disease, in particular, is one of the most common dental problems that result in bleeding gums. Gum disease doesn't usually become painful until it gets further advanced, which is why so many people have it and don't even know.

Causes

There can be several different reasons why someone is suffering from bleeding gums. It can range from something insignificant to a severe underlying issue that should be attended to immediately. Causes include:

• Brushing too vigorously
• A vitamin deficiency, specifically vitamin k
• Taking blood thinners or other medications
• Bleeding or clotting disorders
• Gingivitis and gum disease
• Hormonal changes during pregnancy
• Other medical problems such as diabetes, heart disease, leukemia or scurvy.

Treatment

First and foremost, you should continue to practice good oral hygiene so that the plaque and bacteria buildup will be eliminated from your mouth. When dental plaque builds up, it causes tartar which is a hard, sticky substance that sticks to your teeth. If you don't regularly brush and floss your teeth, then this tartar can cause plaque to build up even more and cause infection.

That's why it's so important to see your dentist if you are having problems with bleeding gums. Conditions like gingivitis and gum disease can be more easily reversed if caught early on by a healthcare professional. There are other treatment options available that help slow down the process of gum disease such as scaling and root planning procedures. Periodontal therapy may be necessary for ongoing bleeding gums caused by periodontal disease. If all else fails, dental surgery may be required to control the bleeding.