Why Your Gums Bleed and What To Do About It

Start treating your bleeding gums now with these tips.

Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth? What about when you floss? Bleeding gums can be a rather upsetting phenomenon, but it is very important not to let it discourage you from brushing and flossing every day as you should. In fact, if you stop brushing and flossing you will almost certainly end up with bigger issues.

What Causes Bleeding Gums?

There are actually two main issues that can cause bleeding gums:

Inadequate Oral Hygiene: If you don’t brush and floss often enough, oral bacteria will be able to thrive around the gum line, including in the gum pockets. This can lead to inflammation and gum disease. Your gums may become red, swollen, tender, and prone to bleeding.

Incorrect Oral Hygiene: If you brush and floss regularly but still suffer from bleeding gums, the problem may be that you are actually brushing and/or flossing wrong. Brushing too hard, especially with a rough back-and-forth motion, can actually irritate your gums to the point where they may bleed a little, as can snapping dental floss against your gums. Also beware of using a toothbrush whose bristles are too hard or are overly frayed, as either may irritate your gums.

How to Cure Bleeding Gums

The good news is that bleeding gums are typically easy to cure. In most cases, the key is simply to improve your oral hygiene routine. Be sure to:

• Brush twice and floss once every day
• Use a new, soft-bristled toothbrush
• Gently brush up and down or in small circles
• Use your floss to gently clean under the gum line

This should serve to clear up bleeding caused by gum irritation or by mild gum disease infections in a week or two.

If your troubles with bleeding gums persist, schedule a visit with one of the dentists at California Dental Group. We can provide specialized dental cleanings to help treat more serious cases of gum disease. These cleanings go deeper than your typical routine cleaning, reaching into the gum pockets to remove plaque and tartar from the roots of teeth. Typically we spread the procedure over two appointments. For your comfort, local anesthetic may be given.

We may also recommend different products or techniques that you can use at home to help prevent your gum disease infection from returning and causing your gums to bleed once again.

If you would like help treating your bleeding gums, please contact us today.