Taking care of your teeth is not the only way to ensure a healthy mouth. It would be best if you also cared for your gums to ensure that your mouth stays disease-free. One of the most common symptoms of an unhealthy oral cavity is bleeding gums. This condition occurs when plaque builds up in your teeth and your gum line. Patients with bleeding gums are at risk of developing severe gum disease. Dentists at Emerson Dental Arts help patients diagnose the root cause of their bleeding gums and develop an ideal treatment plan to restore their healthy mouths.

What causes bleeding gums?

Every time you consume food, some residue remains in your mouth. For this reason, doctors recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing regularly to get rid of the food particles. Unfortunately, some patients forget to clean their teeth, and thus, plaque forms on the enamel and gum line. Consequently, inflammation in the gums develops, a condition called gingivitis. If you do not manage the plaque in time, it hardens into tartar, which causes bleeding gums. The tartar causes gingivitis to develop into a more severe periodontal disease called periodontitis.

Failure to maintain proper oral hygiene is not the only cause of bleeding gums. Other causes of bleeding gums include:

• Brushing too hard. The bristles on your toothbrush may cause mechanical damage to your teeth, causing bleeding.
• Pregnancy. Hormonal changes may cause the gums of pregnant women to become tender and thus easy to bleed.
• Ill-fitting dental appliances like dentures. These devices may put pressure on your gums and injure them.
• Vitamin K deficiency.

How to Care For Bleeding Gums

The best way to control health in your oral cavity is to visit the dentist regularly, at least every six months. Your dentist will always begin your dental appointments by cleaning your teeth and removing any accumulated plaque. For this reason, you will not have to worry about bacteria damaging your teeth and gums.

Brushing your teeth is the best way to keep your mouth clean and infection-free. You should strictly use a soft-bristle brush and avoid using a lot of force so that you do not damage your gums and cause them to bleed. Doctors recommend brushing your teeth and flossing at least twice a day to prevent plaque from accumulating.

Maintaining a healthy diet will help you manage the status of your gums. You should avoid sugary snacks like sweets that damage your teeth.

When should you contact your dental care provider?

Bleeding gums may be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Moreover, if you do not treat your bleeding gums, this condition may develop into periodontitis. You should seek medical intervention if you have chronic bleeding or if you experience other unexplained symptoms. Your dentist will conduct the necessary diagnostic tests to determine why your gums are bleeding or not responding to treatment. Contact Emerson Dental Arts to find out the available treatments for bleeding gums and schedule a treatment appointment to help you eliminate your symptoms and restore functionality to your gums.