Brushing your teeth is a very important practice in order to facilitate adequate oral hygiene and prevent bacteria from growing in your mouth and teeth. However, something may be wrong if you notice blood coming from your mouth after you brush your teeth. This blood emanates from your gums, which are the areas of tissue that surround the necks of the teeth and covers parts of the jaw.
If your gums are bleeding when you brush, the most likely cause is inadequate plaque removal. Plaque contains bacteria and germs which attack the healthy tissue around the teeth. Once this plaque gets a chance to facilitate the gums, the gums eventually become irritated and inflamed. This means that whenever you brush or floss, the gums can predispose to bleeding quite easily due to physical stimulation. If this is the case, you may be suffering from a condition called gingivitis.
Gingivitis is generally painless, and the only symptom may be the bleeding gums themselves. Other signs that you may be suffering from gingivitis include swollen and tender gums, persistent bad breath, loose teeth and a change in the fit of your teeth when you bite down. Gums that bleed easily should not be ignored and if you are only suffering from these early symptoms, it can be reversed.
If the plaque is not removed, eventually, the gums will separate and recede from the teeth. The gums will eventually deteriorate and gaps will begin to form in between the gums and teeth. This allows easy entry for bacteria to infiltrate and harden into full tartar. There are other factors that can put you at risk for bleeding gums.
Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is one of the leading causes of bleeding gums. Gum disease is typically linked to diabetes, cancer, stroke and heart disease. Even the sexual health of men has been linked with gum disease. Inflammation caused by periodontal disease has been suggested by scientists to be responsible for gum disease being associated with these conditions. There are other less common reasons such as a lack of Vitamins C and K, pregnancy-related gum inflammation and thrombocytopenia.
Risk factors for gum disease include being over the age of 65, stress, medications such as anti-depressants and blood thinners and poor oral hygiene. Smoking also doubles your risk for gum disease, and regular use of tobacco can greatly lessen the effectiveness of potential treatments.
In order to stop your gums from bleeding, you should see your dentist if you experience any of the early signs so that a dental care regimen can be recommended. In terms of specific actions that you can take to get your gums to stop bleeding is brushing after each meal, using fluoride toothpaste, flossing and seeing your dentist for regular cleanings.
You can also visit the professionals at Mountain View Dental at their comfortable practice. You can consult them for questions about your condition and schedule an appointment. Be sure to take the initiative before the bleeding gets worse.
