When Should I Be Concerned with Bleeding Gums?
Bleeding gums can be anywhere from annoying to worrisome. It isn’t normal to see your gums bleed while brushing, or to spit out blood along with your mouth wash. There may be instances here and there where you notice bleeding, and that bleeding may be happening for a variety of reasons. If you find your gums are bleeding regularly, though, you’ll want to address the issue.
Why Are My Gums Bleeding?
There are a variety of different reasons that your gums may be bleeding. These include:
- Improper oral care. If you aren’t regularly and properly brushing, flossing and rinsing, you may develop gum disease—which will cause your gums to bleed.
- Brushing too hard. While you want to brush your teeth thoroughly, be careful with how hard you brush.
- Flossing too hard. Just like with brushing, you want to make sure you are being gentle when you are flossing to avoid any harm to your gums.
- The wrong type of brush. Consider how hard your toothbrush is. Generally, a soft or medium bristle brush is the best choice for most people.
How Can I Address Bleeding Gums?
Once you notice your gums are bleeding, there are a few things that you can do to stop or at least reduce the bleeding:
- Take good care of your oral health. First and foremost, make sure you are brushing, flossing and rinsing properly and regularly.
- Rinse with salt water or hydrogen peroxide. Try rinsing with salt water and/or hydrogen peroxide. This can help to reduce inflammation and fight off bacteria.
- Stop smoking. Smoking is bad for your health overall and affects different aspects of your health. This includes the wellbeing of your gums.
- Eat healthier. Cutting out sugar and lowering your carb intake can help you to decrease the plaque buildup on your teeth. It will also help to ensure that you are getting the right vitamins.
When Should I Be Concerned?
While occasional bleeding is no cause for concern, regular bleeding needs to be addressed. Make sure you are taking the steps mentioned above to reduce or eliminate bleeding. If the bleeding persists and/or gets worse, it’s time to set an appointment with your dentist.
Another thing you’ll want to consider is if you have a bad taste in your mouth and/or bad breath. These can be indicators that you may have gum disease.
If your gums bleed regularly or a few times a month, make sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist for a checkup. If you have any sort of gum disease, it’s best to catch it early on before it progresses and causes more damage.
Gum bleeding can be a sign of major underlying oral health issues and should be taken seriously. Take quick action to improve your oral health when you notice your gums are bleeding. If they continue to bleed, schedule an appointment with your dentist to have your gums checked out.