If you notice any changes in your gums and these changes don’t resolve promptly, see a dentist. It’s not normal for a person’s gums to hurt or appear red or inflamed, and they shouldn’t bleed when you brush or floss your teeth, but most adults have experienced these symptoms at one point or another. If you experience the aforementioned symptoms regularly and they don’t resolve after a few days of proper oral hygiene practices, make sure to see your dentist.
If your gums are bleeding because of gum disease, your dentist may be able to devise a treatment plan that reverses the gum disease and restores the gum tissue to health, though this is only possible when it is treated early. When gum disease is allowed to progress, it can develop into periodontitis, which destroys the tissues of the gums and jawbone and eventually leads to tooth loss. While periodontitis and its destructive effects can be treated, they cannot be reversed, and gum disease should be prevented as much as possible. Brush your teeth twice daily, using a soft-bristled toothbrush in a gentle, circular motion, and clean between the teeth with dental floss or another interdental cleaning tool, using care not to irritate the gum tissue. In addition to home hygiene, see your dentist for regular dental checkups and professional cleanings, which can detect and treat early gum disease before it wreaks havoc on the oral cavity.
Certain medical conditions may contribute to bleeding gums, as can pregnancy and deficiencies in vitamins C or K. Diabetes can cause the gums to bleed, and managing blood sugar levels with regular medical care, coupled with dietary and lifestyle measures, can reduce inflammation in the gums and discourage bleeding. Certain blood disorders, like hemophilia, can also cause the gums to bleed, and patients with hemophilia should work with their primary care provider for treatment. In otherwise healthy patients, bleeding gums can be caused by improper or infrequent brushing and flossing of the teeth, smoking, use of certain medications, and gum disease. Of course, bleeding gums can also be caused by trauma or injury to the gums themselves, and the effects of this injury may be worse in gum tissue that is already weakened by gum disease.
If your gums are bleeding and it is interfering with your ability to go about your day, gently press gauze against the bleeding area to stanch the flow of blood. If you have a weakened immune system or bleeding disorder, make sure to follow your doctor’s instructions for bleeding occurrences. Holding an ice pack or cold compress against bleeding or irritated gums in brief increments can help soothe the tissue and can reduce the swelling caused by gum disease. Certain mouthwashes can help treat bleeding gums and can also be used to prevent them, reducing inflammation and staving off gum disease, and warm salt water rinses can also relieve discomfort and inflammation and help keep the tissues of the oral cavity clean, speeding up healing times. See your dentist if bleeding persists or other symptoms arise.