Understanding the reasons behind bleeding gums is essential in maintaining oral health and preventing further complications. So why are your gums bleeding when you brush and floss? Let’s take a look at some of the major culprits.

Gingivitis

The earliest stage of gum disease, gingivitis, is characterized by inflammation caused by plaque buildup at the gumline. Symptoms often include redness, swelling, and bleeding during brushing or flossing [1]. Without proper treatment, gingivitis can progress to more severe periodontal disease.

Improper Brushing or Flossing Techniques

Using a toothbrush with hard bristles or brushing too aggressively can damage the gums, leading to bleeding. Similarly, flossing harshly or incorrectly can cause trauma to the gum tissue, causing bleeding. It’s crucial to ensure proper brushing and flossing techniques to protect your gums.

Poor Oral Hygiene

Failing to maintain adequate oral hygiene can lead to the buildup of plaque and tartar, both of which can irritate the gums. This can ultimately result in bleeding when brushing or flossing your teeth.

Vitamin Deficiencies

A deficiency in vitamin C can lead to gum bleeding. Vitamin C is crucial for repairing tissues and maintaining the overall health of gums [2]. Likewise, low levels of Vitamin K, which helps blood clotting, can also contribute to gum bleeding.

Certain Medications

Certain medications, such as blood thinners and some over-the-counter pain relievers, can increase the likelihood of gum bleeding as they interfere with the blood’s ability to clot. Your dentist can help assess if your medication is causing your gum bleeding.

Hormonal Changes

Pregnancy, menstruation, and menopause cause hormonal changes that can make gums more sensitive and prone to bleeding [3]. It’s not uncommon for pregnant people, teenagers, and older women to have more sensitive and bleeding gums.

Addressing and Preventing Bleeding Gums

If your gums bleed when you brush or floss, it’s important to:

• Take good care of your smile. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Make sure to brush at least twice daily (at least 30 minutes after eating) and floss at least once a day. 
• Eat a healthy diet. Incorporate foods rich in vitamins C and K into your diet, such as citrus fruits, leafy greens, and broccoli, to strengthen your gums and overall dental health.
• Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water helps wash away food particles and bacteria from your teeth and gums, reducing the likelihood of plaque buildup.
• See your dentist. Regular check-ups and professional cleanings with your dentist can help identify and treat any underlying issues before they become severe.
• Adjust lifestyle habits. Reduce or quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption, as both can contribute to gum disease and associated symptoms.

Ask Your Dentist About Your Gum Health

If bleeding persists despite adhering to good oral hygiene practices or if it’s accompanied by other symptoms such as swelling, bad breath, or receding gums, it’s crucial to seek professional advice. Contact your dentist to book an exam to assess your gum health. Your gums play a crucial role in a healthy body and smile, so don’t wait!

Sources:

1. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/bleeding-gums
2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8784414/
3. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/womens-hormones-and-dental-health

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Whether or not you have been diagnosed with gum disease, it’s crucial to see your dentist regularly. Regular dental cleanings and exams can help prevent gum disease and catch it early if it starts. But how often do you need to see your dentist for gum disease? Here’s what you need to know.

Every Six Months for Healthy Gums

For people with healthy gums, it’s generally recommended to visit the dentist every six months for routine check-ups and cleanings. However, everyone’s oral health is different, and your dentist will recommend an interval that makes the most sense for your smile [1]. Remember, even if your gums are healthy now, you are more at risk of getting gum disease with age, so regular check-ups are essential.

If You Have Gingivitis

If you have mild gum disease, or gingivitis, your dentist may ask you to come in every three to four months for treatment. This allows for frequent cleanings and regular monitoring to prevent progression to more severe stages. Your dentist will also provide personalized advice on your oral hygiene routine at home to help treat your condition. Gingivitis is easier to reverse than advanced gum disease [2].

Treating Moderate to Severe Gum Disease

For those with moderate or severe gum disease, more frequent dental visits may be necessary. It’s not uncommon for dentists to recommend appointments every three months or more frequently, depending on your circumstances [3].

These visits often include a deep cleaning, also known as a root planing and scaling procedure, along with an oral exam to evaluate the effectiveness of your treatment plan, including your home care habits.

Your dentist will tailor their recommendations based on your specific needs, health history, and gum disease. Factors such as smoking, diabetes, and hormonal changes can also play a role in your risk for gum disease, which may affect the suggested visit frequency.

Never Ignore Signs of Gum Disease

When you’re dealing with gum disease or have an increased risk for the condition, seeing your dentist regularly is crucial for managing your oral health. These regular check-ups and cleanings will also go a long way toward preventing gum disease from occurring in the first place.

If you notice signs of gum disease, including red, swollen, or bleeding gums, don’t hesitate to contact your dentist. The sooner you seek care, the better your chance of reversing or managing the condition so you can maintain a healthy smile!

Sources:

1. https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/home-care
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279593/
3. https://penndentalmedicine.org/phmc-cedar-campus/blog/how-often-to-see-dentist/ 

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Diabetes—a condition in which the body doesn’t make or use insulin, or blood sugar, properly—can make it more difficult to prevent gum disease, and gum disease can increase your risk for complications from diabetes.

But what exactly is the relationship between these two disorders? Here’s what you need to know about diabetes and periodontal disease.

If You Have Diabetes, You’re More Likely to Get Gum Disease

People with type 2 diabetes tend to have high blood sugar, which can encourage harmful bacteria to proliferate in your oral cavity. These bacteria can increase your risk for gum disease by causing more plaque growth in your mouth.

While the early stage of gum disease, called gingivitis, can usually be reversed with a deep cleaning, advancing periodontal disease tends to be harder to treat. In addition, patients with diabetes may have trouble getting their gum disease under control.

Diabetes can also make it more likely for people to experience infections such as the active infection seen in periodontal disease [1].

Patients With Untreated Diabetes Are Especially at Risk

Untreated or undiagnosed diabetes is not only dangerous for your health, but can put you at even higher risk for gum disease. High blood sugar can make infection both more likely and harder to treat. Patients who have poorly-controlled blood sugar tend to have worse cases of periodontal disease, including severely inflamed gum tissue, bleeding, and tooth loss [2].

Can Periodontal Disease Make Diabetes Worse?

The relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes is complex, but in general, gum disease can make diabetes worse.

Gum disease increases blood sugar by triggering an immune response to the bacteria involved in gum disease. Infections such as periodontal disease create a stress reaction that can cause the body to increase cortisol and adrenaline, which can increase the production of glucose [3].

So just as periodontal disease can make diabetes worse, so diabetes can make periodontal disease worse. Experts are still understanding the link, but there are ways you can protect yourself from gum disease if you have diabetes!

How You Can Help Protect Your Teeth and Gums

Whether or not you have diabetes, you can help keep gum disease away by brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing once a day, and visiting your dentist every six months. If you have diabetes, it’s essential to take care of yourself and receive treatment as necessary to help protect your body and your smile.

If you live with diabetes and are considered to be at high risk for gum disease, your dentist may suggest you come in more often for checkups and cleanings to help prevent periodontal disease and help keep your diabetes under control.

With what we know about the link between periodontal disease and diabetes, managing your risk for gum disease as well as your diabetes is essential to your health. Always keep your dental appointments to support your oral health, as they may help support your diabetes management as well!

Sources:
1. https://www.perio.org/consumer/gum-disease-and-diabetes.htm
2. https://spectrum.diabetesjournals.org/content/24/4/195
3. https://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Publications/Files/FTDP_July2013_2.pdf?la=en

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What are the consequences of ignoring gum disease? The ramifications can affect more than your smile. Here’s what happens when gum disease is ignored and how it can affect your oral and bodily health!

Chronic Bad Breath

Gingivitis often begins with the noticeable symptom of chronic bad breath. You or your partner may notice that your breath is constantly off, and it may get worse as gum disease goes untreated. You may brush, floss, and use mouthwash, but the bad breath never completely goes away.

Bad breath is often the result of poor oral hygiene which can cause food and bacteria to
accumulate between teeth and cause gum inflammation [1]. Eventually, these bacteria will lead to pockets of infection around the gumline, which can not only cause bad breath, but contribute to a bad taste in the mouth as well.

Gum Recession

As gum disease progresses, you may begin to notice your gums receding. Receding gums can expose dentin—the softer layer of your tooth beneath the enamel—and even tooth roots.

You may notice that your teeth look longer, or begin to see discoloration near your gumline. When gums pull back from the teeth in this way, the result isn’t just longer-looking teeth, but sensitive teeth as well [2]. While gum recession has a few causes, including brushing too harshly, one of the most common is gum disease!

Loose Teeth

In its latter stages, periodontal disease can weaken the ligaments, or connective tissue, that help anchor teeth in place. The continuing infection will cause the pockets of bacteria to get larger, and teeth may begin to feel loose or feel as though they are shifting in your mouth.

Loose teeth can not only fit together differently, but also make it difficult or uncomfortable to chew. Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss, and without treatment, this devastating oral health problem could eventually cost you your smile.

Other Health Complications

Gum disease doesn’t just affect your teeth. Research has linked bacteria from gum disease to other inflammatory conditions in the body, including heart disease, diabetes, and even certain types of cancer [3]. Periodontal disease also poses particular risks for expecting mothers—active gum inflammation has been associated with an increased risk for delivering babies prematurely as well as babies with a low birth weight [4].

There Is Treatment for Gum Disease!

Preventable and treatable, periodontal disease isn’t a condition you have to live with. Your dentist can detect the early stages of gingivitis to help you reverse gum inflammation, and even for those with active periodontal disease, there is treatment. Get in touch with your dentist today to get a screening for gum disease!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1570844/
2. https://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Publications/Files/FTDP_Sept2013_2.pdf?la=en

3. https://www.perio.org/consumer/gum-disease-and-other-diseases
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217279/

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Healthy gum tissue is essential to the health of our teeth, as it helps to both support the teeth and protect the roots of the teeth from exposure to hot and cold foods, which can cause painful sensitivity.

What could cause healthy gum tissue to suddenly become swollen and potentially lead to gum disease? Let’s take a closer look at why your gums could be unhappy and need professional treatment to get back to normal!

Bacteria and Plaque

Bacteria and plaque are the primary culprits in gum inflammation and disease. In fact, plaque is actually composed of bacteria and food debris left in the mouth. You know plaque as the sticky coating on your teeth if you haven’t brushed for a few hours.

Plaque can build up on teeth, particularly in areas we miss when brushing. When left unchecked, plaque can begin to irritate the gumline, which can lead to a potential infection. Plaque can eventually form in tartar, a hard substance that will need to be removed by your dentist [1].

Genetics Can Contribute

If your parents have a history of gum disease, it’s more likely that you’ll have gum inflammation or disease at some point in your life.

Why is this? Research shows that certain genes are linked to the development of gum disease [2]. By understanding your risk, you can take precautionary measures to prevent problems with your gums.

And remember, just because your family has a history of gum disease doesn’t mean you’ll get it—but it’s important to be aware of your risk!

Other Factors That Can Impact Your Risk

You’ll be more at risk for gum inflammation and disease if you smoke or use tobacco products. You may also be more at risk if you’re pregnant, as this can cause gums to swell due to different hormones and increased blood flow in the body. For this reason, those who take oral contraceptives may be at more risk as well.

Crooked teeth, which can be difficult to clean, and compromised immunity can all impact your risk for inflamed gum tissue. Even being under a lot of stress—which can impact your immune system—can increase your risk for certain problems with your gums [3].

How to Help Prevent Gum Problems

Fortunately, keeping your gums healthy is simpler than you think. By regularly cleaning your teeth—brushing twice daily and flossing once daily—you can help prevent gum disease.

Combine your home care habits with regular checkups with your dentist, and you can help stop gum disease before it even has a chance to start!

Sources:
1. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2017-09/periodontal-disease_0.pdf
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5424192/
3. https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/conditions/periodontal-disease.html

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With an estimated half of American adults over the age of 30 having some form of gum disease, treatment for this condition is common. An initial consultation with your dentist is important to determine if you have gum disease and how severe it is.

Depending on your unique case, gum disease may require a combination of the following
treatment options.

Early Stage: Cleaning

The earliest stage of gum disease is called gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gum tissue. Gum disease is easier to reverse at this stage, and so a professional cleaning from your dentist may be all that’s necessary to remove bacteria and help reverse the inflammation. However, your oral care habits at home are going to help a lot too.

Your dentist may conduct a professional cleaning and have you return to the office to ensure the gum disease is going away, or you may need additional cleanings. Taking care of your teeth at home with brushing and flossing is going to be an important part of your healing process as well.

Next Stage: Deep Cleaning

If your gum disease is a bit more aggressive or has advanced past the point of gingivitis, your dentist will want to conduct a deep cleaning, also called a root planing and scaling [2].

The scaling part happens first—your dentist will remove any plaque, tartar, and infection that may be present to help your gum tissue heal. Next, the root planing helps gum tissue reattach to your teeth and prevent bacteria from getting underneath the gumline.

This deep cleaning may need to be done more than once. It all depends on your unique smile and if this cleaning process is effective at treating your gum disease.

In order to enhance the effectiveness of your root planing and scaling procedure, your dentist may prescribe antibiotics or a mouth rinse to encourage healing.

Advanced: Surgery

If a deep cleaning has been done more than once and isn’t successful, your dentist may discuss the possibility of gum surgery with you to treat your gum disease.

Your dentist will want to remove plaque and infection from areas that may be difficult or
impossible to reach without surgery, allowing the gums to regenerate healthy tissue [3].

With this procedure, your dentist is also able to put your gums back into place to help them reattach properly. There are different types of periodontal surgery, so you and your dentist will talk about which one is right for you.

Preventing Gum Disease

Preventing gum disease is always easier than treating the condition after it’s progressed. While some people are predisposed to gum disease, adopting healthy home care practices such as taking care of your teeth, not smoking, eating healthy, and keeping your dental appointments can help you keep gum disease away.

If you suspect you have gum disease, your dentist can help you reverse the condition with the right care. Remember, the sooner you treat gum disease, the more successful your treatment is likely to be!

Sources:
1. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/gum-disease/more-info
2. https://www.ada.org/en/press-room/news-releases/2015-archive/july/the-american-dental-association-releases-guideline-on-gum-disease-treatment
3. https://www.dentistry.uiowa.edu/patient-care-periodontal

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Chronic bad breath may be trying to tell you something about your oral health in addition to
impacting your professional life and your personal relationships.

When you’re at your wit’s end dealing with your bad breath, these simple tips may be able to
help alleviate the issue and get your smile back on track!

Floss

If you aren’t flossing daily, you’re allowing plaque, food particles, and other bacteria to get
stuck between your teeth. Your toothbrush can’t reach in between your teeth to access these
tight spaces, and so the material is left to sit there and accumulate.

Over time, this debris can cause a putrid smell, which may be contributing to your chronic bad
breath. If you haven’t flossed in a while, it’s time to start. Use about 18 inches of floss and use a
new, clean section of the floss for each pair of teeth that you floss between.

Flossing may be uncomfortable or cause bleeding the first time, but your mouth should quickly
become accustomed to the practice and you might just help your bad breath!

See Your Dentist

Chronic bad breath could be a sign of an ongoing infection, such as that which is present with
gum disease. In fact, having bad breath that doesn’t go away is a common sign that gum
disease is present.

If gum disease is caught early, it’s relatively easy to reverse. Your dentist can conduct a deep
cleaning to remove any infection or plaque that’s built up around or underneath the gumline.

Since gum disease is very common—nearly half of all Americans have some form of it—there’s
no need to panic, but you should schedule an appointment with your dentist to address the
problem. If gum disease is found to be the cause of your bad breath, the problem will go away
with treatment!

Brush Your Tongue

A lot of bacteria can accumulate on your tongue, and people don’t always remember to brush
this part of their mouth. However, brushing your tongue is as simple as using your toothbrush
or a tongue scraper to brush away bacteria that’s accumulated there.

If your oral care routine doesn’t include tongue brushing, try adding this practice and see if it
helps your chronic bad breath—it might just help you to have a cleaner, fresher mouth!

Drink More Water

If you’re not drinking enough water throughout the day, dry mouth could be contributing to
your chronic bad breath. Many people don’t realize that a dry mouth can mean a stinky mouth!
Saliva plays an important role in balancing bacteria and protecting our teeth from harmful
acids.

When you don’t drink enough water, there’s not enough saliva present to do its job, so bad
bacteria can quickly cause your breath to turn sour. So not only is not drinking enough water
negatively impacting your smile—it could also be causing bad breath!

Do you experience bad breath on a regular basis? When it seems like nothing is helping and
your bad breath always returns, it’s time to seek help from your dentist. He or she can help
determine if gum disease is causing your chronic bad breath and help you have a healthy smile
again!

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What exactly causes gum swelling? The following causes may be responsible for the
inflammation in your gum tissue and should always be followed up with an oral healthcare
professional to protect your smile!

Gum Disease

Gum disease is one of the most common causes of gum swelling. When gum disease is present,
bacteria from plaque can get beneath your gumline and begin to irritate the gum tissue. When
this happens, the gum tissue will react and can become inflamed. Without treatment, gum
disease can progress to cause infections underneath the gums, which in turn can cause bad
breath, bleeding gum tissue, and even cause tooth loss.

Certain Medications

Many medications can actually cause the gum tissue to become inflamed. These medications
include some seizure medications, immunosuppressant drugs (such as chemotherapy), and
some blood pressure medications. In some people, these medications can actually cause the
gum tissue to grow over your teeth and create an ideal place for bacteria to form. If you’re
concerned that one of your medications is causing gum swelling, don’t hesitate to schedule an
appointment with your dentist or physician.

Lack of Vitamin C

Although less common in developed countries, a lack of vitamin C in your diet can be damaging
to your gum tissue and can lead to gum disease and gum swelling. Vitamin C is an essential
nutrient for your gums and can help facilitate healthy connective tissue and support a strong
immune system to fight off gum infection.

Changing Your Oral Care Products

If you’ve recently started using a new toothpaste, mouthwash, or floss, your gum tissue may be
reacting to an ingredient in these products that you haven’t used before. If you’re experiencing
gum swelling after using a new product, you may consider discontinuing your use of the
product to see if this alleviates the issue. If it doesn’t, be sure to follow up with your dentist!

Flossing After a Long Time

Flossing is hugely beneficial for your smile and shouldn’t be painful or harmful to your teeth or gums. However, if you haven’t flossed in a long time and have recently started again, your gums might not be used to the movement of the floss and may react by swelling. This swelling should be temporary and shouldn’t last more than a couple of days after you’ve begun flossing again, but if it does, don’t hesitate to reach out to your dentist to see what the problem could be.

Are you experiencing gum swelling but aren’t sure what the problem is? It’s always best to
follow up with your dentist to see what could be causing your gum inflammation and to
effectively treat the problem. Your gums protect and anchor your teeth, so don’t neglect to
take care of them!

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When your body has an infection, it tries to fight it off by raising your white blood cell count to stop the invading bacteria. Bacteria that cause an infection rarely go away on their own. Typically, an infection will get worse without medical intervention.

The same is true for infections in your mouth. Infected gums or teeth can and will continue to get worse without help. Unless the infection is properly treated, you could be putting your smile in harm’s way by ignoring the infection.

Here’s why you should never wait to treat a gum or tooth infection.

Infections Will Worsen

As we just discussed, infections don’t get better on their own. In order for this to happen, the bacteria that are causing the infection need to be removed.

For example, with a gum infection, pockets of pus often begin to form around the gumline in-between the gums and your teeth. Unless this area is properly cleaned and the infection is entirely removed, it will continue to get worse. Only a professional dentist can properly clean the area and prevent the infection from coming back.

With a tooth infection, the problem could lie below the gumline. Typically, this happens when a cavity has gotten so large that the decay is now present in your tooth’s root. This allows the pulp of your tooth to become infected, which can be very painful. When this happens, you’ll need a root canal to remove the decaying pulp and save your tooth. Otherwise, the infection will continue to get worse and could even move into your gums and cause a tooth abscess.

Bacteria Can Spread to the Bloodstream

Tooth and gum infections are not something that you want to wait to treat. By the time you notice symptoms of infection, it’s likely that the infection has already gotten worse. Infections such as these can actually enter the bloodstream if they’re left to progress.

Once bacteria enter the bloodstream, it makes its way to the heart. Here, the bacteria can cause adverse health symptoms and even death. People who let tooth infections go have ended up in the hospital because the infection has entered their bloodstream. Getting treatment as soon as possible can prevent this from happening!

What Can Be Done?

If you suspect that you have a tooth or gum infection, schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. A gum infection could be indicative of gum disease and will need treatment to heal. A tooth infection will eventually become very painful and could even cause the need for your tooth to be extracted.

The good news is that seeking help sooner rather than later can save your smile. These infections do not go away on their own and need the care of a professional dentist to get better. Often, the treatment is painless and your smile can be saved.

Never assume that an infection will go away. Symptoms of a tooth or gum infection include pain or swelling, a bad taste in your mouth, constant bad breath, redness, or bleeding. A simple dentist visit can tell you if you have an infection that needs treatment. Don’t wait to seek help—save your smile by getting a checkup today!

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Sore Gums

If your gums are tender either to the touch or while you’re brushing, you could be experiencing a symptom of gum infection. If your gums aren’t sore regularly, it might not be anything to worry about. However, if your gums are consistently sore or seem to be getting worse, visit your dentist!

Red or Swollen Gums

This symptom usually goes hand-in- hand with sore gums. If your gums look more red than pink, this could be indicative of a problem. In addition, if your gums look puffy or look as though they’re sticking too far out from your teeth, they’re likely swollen and will need to be evaluated by your oral healthcare professional.

Bleeding Gums

Seeing blood when brushing is a common symptom of either a gum infection or gum disease. Some people think bleeding when brushing is normal—it’s not! Unless you are brushing too aggressively, blood when brushing could be a sign of an infection.

A Bad Taste in Your Mouth

If you have a foul taste in your mouth from time to time, you could have an infection which is causing this. Another sign of a gum infection is bad breath. The bad smell could be coming from the gum infection or gum disease or both. Regardless, persistent bad breath or a terrible taste in your mouth could mean a problem. Your wisdom teeth could also be a source of infection. If you never got your wisdom teeth removed and they haven’t fully erupted, your gum tissue is more prone to infection and may cause this unpleasant taste.

Receding Gums

When there’s an infection in the areas between your gums and your teeth, this could cause your gums to begin to pull back from your teeth. This is also known as gum recession and can actually lead to loose teeth. The infection needs to be treated or it’ll get worse!

Visible Pus

If you visibly see pus in your mouth or have pockets of pus—whether it’s from gum disease or an abscess on your gums, you need to get to a dentist as soon as possible. Letting an infection in your mouth go could lead the infection to get into your bloodstream and could cause serious health problems and even death.

If you have a gum infection, this is not a condition you want to wait to seek help for. It can ruin your smile and even cause you some serious health problems. Seeking treatment sooner rather than later is always ideal. If you suspect you might have an infection in your gums, see your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist can properly treat the infection and save your smile!

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