Causes of Bleeding Gums
Rarely, bleeding gums may be a symptom of other problems pertaining to your mouth or body. While bleeding gums are usually a good signal that you have gum disease, causes of bleeding gums can also result from:
- Brushing too hard
- A vitamin deficiency
- Taking blood thinners or other medications
- Bleeding or clotting disorders
- Hormonal changes during pregnancy, resulting in pregnancy gingivitis
- Dentures that don’t fit
- Mouth sores
- Other medical problems, including diabetes, heart disease, leukemia or scurvy
Regardless of your situation, it’s important that you don’t self diagnose. Only a dentist or medical professional can determine the causes of bleeding gums and offer the right treatment.
Bleeding Gums Treatment
The best bleeding gums treatment is to remove from your teeth the plaque bacteria that causes gum disease. When dental plaque builds up, it turns into tartar, a hard, sticky substance that adheres to your teeth. Without regular teeth cleanings, dental tartar can become a breeding ground for even more plaque, which can creep below the gum line and lead to an infection that causes bleeding gums.
So if you notice that you have bleeding gums, see a dentist as soon as you can. Seeking bleeding gums treatment at the first sign of a problem can help reverse gingivitis and help prevent periodontal disease. Other treatment options, such as scaling and root planing procedures, slow down the process of gum disease. If you suffer from an advanced form of periodontal disease, your dentist may recommend ongoing bleeding gums treatment or periodontal therapy. In some cases, dental surgery may be needed to control the bleeding.