Waking up to bleeding gums when you brush can be a really anxiety-inducing experience, as despite our best efforts sometimes we do just miss the mark and end up lacking when it comes to oral hygiene. So, why do we develop bleeding gums? How common is it? And can it be cured? Today we’re going to supply you with all the answers surrounding bleeding gums.
Contents
Bleeding Gums: What You Need To Know
Why Do Gums Bleed?
In the vast majority of cases seen by a dentist Gordon bleeding gums are caused by gum disease, medically known as gingivitis. This is an infection of the gums. It usually comes with a few other symptoms such as redness, swelling, tenderness and bad breath.
Generally speaking, people don’t tend to pay all that much attention to their gums, so often it isn’t until they start to bleed that they really begin to notice a problem.
Why Does Gum Disease Develop?
Gum disease can literally creep up on us. It’s very common with over half of people being affected by it at some point during their life, and if caught early it’s actually extremely easy to treat.
But, why is it so easy to get? Of course, everyone likes to think they’re brushing their teeth correctly every day. However, there are some who actually aren’t and those little, short cuts we take in order to speed a clean along actually result in the build-up of bacteria and then plaque.
When bacteria harden and turn to plaque and then tartar, the substance begins to let off acids which tell the body that something is in the area that shouldn’t be. Our bodies are really clever things as they start a reaction process to get rid of the affected areas (the teeth and gums in this case) which is why they send so much blood there causing redness and inflammation.
This process though is our body’s way of saving itself. Although clever it isn’t great as it will (if left) result in tooth loss, which was one thing when we were living in caves and didn’t have presentations and weddings to attend, as it sorted the issue without a dentist, but for us in 2023? Not so great!
What Can Be Done?
The good thing is, when caught early, gum disease is actually very easy for your dentist to treat. You’ll likely just need a trip to the hygienist for a scale and polish to remove all the plaque build-up from the gum line. This will take the bleeding and redness away.
However, it won’t stop the potential for later build-ups, and for this reason they’ll probably want to talk you through your current oral hygiene routine in order to find the areas which you are lacking in. They will then work with you to ensure you have all the tools and information you need moving forward to make certain they don’t see you back in the chair for the same issue in another six months.
Final Thoughts
Gum disease can begin with feeling a little embarrassing and cause patients to worry but be assured it’s really common and easy to treat. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. If you have bleeding gums or any other orthodontic issue, before proceeding with treatment, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.