Bleeding Gum

Gum are soft tissue components of attachment unit holding the teeth in bony sockets. The 4 components of the attachment unit are : gums, periodontal ligaments, cementum and periosteum.
It is Pale Pink in light skinned people and brown, gray or mottled in people with darker skin when they are healthy. Whereas red gum is a sign of inflammation most of the time..
Bleeding Gums either spontaneous or while brushing or flossing your teeth is usually a symptom of Periodontal Disease or gum disease. Gum bleeding is less evident in smokers be it regular, vape or dip because of the nicotine that reduces blood flow to the gum area. Gum bleeding presents as blood in the saliva when rinsing or spitting out toothpaste

Bleeding Gum While Brushing or Flossing? Possible Causes

Bleeding Gums can occur if you are brushing too hard or if you are wearing dentures that don’t fit correctly. However, more often than not, Bleeding Gum is usually a symptom of Peridontal Disease. Periodontal disease on the other hand is caused by bacteria located under and above the gums. Specifically between the gum and the tooth. The accumulation of bacteria under the gum usually in the form of bacterial plaque leads to inflammation of the surrounding tissues and redness of the gum hence Gum Bleeding.

It is equally safe to say the accumulation of bacteria under the gum and the tooth which causes periodontal disease and as a symptoms of Gum bleeding is caused by Limited or and Poor Oral-Hygiene habits, such as not brushing teeth properly or regularly can cause plaque to build up in your teeth. If plaque is not removed it can harden to form a substance called tartar [calculus].

Tartar sticks much firmly on the teeth than plaque and usually only be removed by dentists. So absence of professional care can also cause periodontal disease and gum bleeding.

Stress, alcohol consumption, Obesity or being overweight and above all smoking, vaping or eating tobacco (Bleeding gums from Dip) are also predisposing factors.
Stress, alcohol consumption, Obesity or being overweight and above all smoking, vaping or eating tobacco (Bleeding gums from Dip) are also predisposing factors.
Certain Drugs can also lead to an increase in the volume of inflammation or the inflammatory response of the gums.
You might also be susceptible for genetic reasons. There is a form of gum disease that runs in the family (Juvenile Periodontitis).

Bleeding gums can be a symptom of some medical conditions. It is a warning to prevent a more severe condition so please do not neglect it. If your gums bleed, it could mean periodontal disease or not. Periodontal disease has been strongly linked to illnesses such as cardiovascular and diabetes, Chronic Kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and indeed premature babies and low birth weight in pregnant women.

A reliable diagnosis and treatment is needed to accurately identify Gum disease which you can get from a Dentist or Periodontist (a gum disease specialist) through the use of a physical examination,probing and X-rays.

How to stop Bleeding gums / Gum Disease treatment

If you have bleeding gums and have been diagnosed by a dentist of having gingivitis (very early stage with no loss of bone) or periodontitis where there is bone loss as evident by gum recession .
The first thing would be to have initial gum treatment done which is commonly called deep cleaning. Ideal term is scaling and root planing. This is to remove accumulated bacteria between the gum and the teeth.

Locally delivered antibiotics are sometimes used to complement this procedure.Electric Toothbrushes are recommended and antimicrobial mouthwash/rinse is prescribed.
Patients are re-evaluated about 6 weeks after to determine if gum surgery will be needed. Gum surgery is needed when at re-evaluation, perio pockets are still 5s and above at the presence of good oral hygiene and no contraindication for surgery. Regular follow up (Perio Maintenance) usually every 3-4 months is required.

Patients should also increase their intake of Vitamin C and Vitamin K respectively. Vitamin c can strengthen your immune system and help fight off infections that cause bleeding gums while vitamin K would make your Blood clot faster. a deficiency can cause easy bleeding.

DO YOU HAVE BLEEDING GUMS ?

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For a limited time only, schedule a new patient free exam and X-ray for a periodontal check up and get accurate diagnosis of why your gums bleed. call Keem Smile Dentistry.