Many people pass off a little bleeding as having brushed their teeth too hard, using a toothbrush that’s too stiff or even being caused by something they ate, but bleeding gums are almost always a sign of gum disease. Even if you brush and floss regularly, you can still get gum disease. There are a variety of things that can cause it, and cause bleeding gums.
Gum disease or gingivitis is a bacterial infection. It’s contagious, and it can cause a lot of problems. When the infection is present, the plaque or film of bacteria on your teeth and gums causes irritation, which causes the bleeding. Your body reacts to the injury with inflammation, which is the body’s response to disease or injury. It’s a form of protection, but for us it means reddening and swelling. Gum disease causes bad breath, it can undermine the support structure of your teeth, and if left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss. The infection can also spread to other parts of your body.
Bleeding gums are a definite sign of gum disease. Without treatment at this stage, the gingivitis is likely to progress to periodontitis, the more severe form of gum disease. Periodontitis is the stage where the infection has spread below the gum line. If this is not treated, the gums can begin to separate from the teeth, and in time, the teeth can fall out. The disease can also get inside the teeth, necessitating a root canal to save them.
Good oral health care at home can decrease the chances of gum disease, but it can still be caused by other factors, including genetics, hormones (especially in women), taking certain medications or certain health conditions. Having regular dental checkups can help because the dentist can detect gum disease early, when treatment is easy. When gingivitis has progressed to periodontitis, deep cleaning and scaling of plaque and tartar from below the gum line may be necessary. Severe gum disease may even require surgery to correct. This is why if you see any bleeding while you are brushing your teeth, you should get to the dentist as soon as possible to reverse gum disease before it becomes worse.
