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Why are my gums bleeding
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Why are my gums bleeding
Introduction:
We have compiled this article on why gums bleed easily. The article provides the possible causes and remedies to this issue.
Do your gums bleed easily? It might be because of something simple, like using the wrong technique when you brush or floss. Or it could be a sign of a health condition you need to check out.
Common Causes
You may have bleeding gums if you:
- Have gingivitis, a disease that causes inflammation of the gums
- Brush too hard, or your toothbrush isn’t soft enough
- Take certain medications, like blood thinners
- Have inflamed gums because you’re pregnant (pregnancy gingivitis)
- Have dentures that don’t fit well
- Defective dental restorations
Gingivitis
Bleeding gums are a sign of gingivitis or inflammation of your gums. It’s a common and mild form of gum disease, and it’s caused by a buildup of plaque at your gum line.
If you have gingivitis, your gums may be irritated, red, and swollen. In addition, they may bleed when you brush your teeth.
You can get rid of this problem by taking good care of your teeth. Brush your teeth twice a day, floss every day, rinse daily with an antibacterial mouthwash, and see your dentist regularly.
Periodontitis
Suppose you don’t take care of your gingivitis. In that case, it can lead to periodontal disease or periodontitis, a long-term gum condition that damages the tissue and bone that support your teeth.
If you have periodontitis, your gums may become inflamed and infected and pull away from the roots of your teeth.
When your gums bleed easily, it could signify periodontal disease. In addition, your teeth may get loose or separate. You could also get bad breath and a bad taste in your mouth.
If you don’t treat periodontal disease, you can lose some teeth.
Diabetes
Bleeding or swollen gums can be a warning sign of type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
When you have this disease, your immunity is not perfect for fighting the bacteria, so you’re more likely to get infections like gum disease. In addition a diabetic person is more prone to getting bone level receded and losing all gum tissue fibre that holds the teeth in its place, so teeth mobility and gum receding will result over time.
Leukemia
Bleeding gums can be a sign of leukemia, a type of cancer.
Your blood platelets help your body stop bleeding. However, if you have leukemia, your platelet count is low. That makes it harder for you to stop bleeding in different body parts, including your gums.
Thrombocytopenia Blood Disorder
If your gums bleed when you brush your teeth and it doesn’t stop on its own, your gums may be irritated or have thrombocytopenia.
If you have this condition, your body may not have enough platelets to form a blood clot. That can lead to too much bleeding in different parts of your body, including your gums.
[1]
Ways To Stop Bleeding Gums
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Bleeding gums may be a sign of poor dental hygiene.
Gums become inflamed and bleed when there’s a plaque buildup along the gum line. Plaque is a sticky film containing bacteria that covers your teeth and gums. And if you don’t brush or floss enough, the bacteria can spread and cause tooth decay or gum disease.
Brush your teeth at least twice daily and floss once a day to improve oral hygiene. Here are more tips for keeping your teeth healthy.
Good oral hygiene is essential for pregnant women. Hormone fluctuations during pregnancy can also trigger gum disease and bleeding gums.
Stop Smoking
In addition to heightening the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke, smoking is linked to gum disease. Smoking is a significant cause of severe gum disease in the United States, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Smoking can lower your body’s immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off plaque bacteria. This can lead to gum disease.
Quitting smoking can help your gums heal and stop bleeding. Talk to your doctor about the best method to help you quit smoking.
Reduce Stress Level
One study suggests a link between periodontal disease and emotional stress. According to the researchers, emotional stress harms the immune system. This may result in weakening the body’s defences to the point where it can’t fight gum infection. However, more research is needed to determine the amount of stress that can trigger the onset of this disease.
It’s believed that emotional stress may also cause some people to neglect their oral health, contributing to the accumulation of plaque. Find out some of the things you can do to relieve stress.
Visit Your Dentist for Regular Checkups
Regular dental checkups and cleanings will help you maintain good oral health and catch and treat any problems before they become an issue.
Your dentist is also the only one that can genuinely remove that stubborn buildup on your teeth. Hardened plaque can’t be removed with a toothbrush and floss alone. To prevent decay or periodontal disease, your dentist will have to remove any top layer of the buildup to ensure it doesn’t develop into a more severe problem.
Conclusion:
We hope that this article has been helpful. Check back frequently for other oral health tips here at Apple Tree Dental.
Article compiled by AppleTreeDental.ca
Article Reference links:
[1]How to Stop Bleeding Gums: 10 Methods to Try – Healthline.
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-stop-bleeding-gums
Why are my Gums Bleeding?. https://drsikes.com/why-are-my-gums-bleeding/
How to Stop Bleeding Gums: 10 Methods to Try – Healthline.
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-stop-bleeding-gums
10 Ways to Stop Bleeding GumsRELY DENTAL.
https://www.relydental.com/ways-stop-bleeding-gums/
Denture Cleaning Tips | Kreze Denture Clinic.
https://www.krezedenturecentre.ca/denture-care
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Teeth Cleaning
Teeth Cleaning
If Teeth Cleaning is what you are looking for and you are in London Ontario, then you have landed on the right website. Apple Tree Dental is your full service Dental Clinic.
Give us a call today, and we can arrange an appointment that best suits your schedule.
Teeth Cleaning:
The goal of Teeth Cleaning is to remove dental plaque and calculus. Teeth cleaning should be a routine because if plaque is not removed in time, it turns into tartar, which is impossible to remove by brushing your teeth.
If plaque is left on your teeth to harden, it can cause cavities, gingivitis, as well as periodontal disease.
Preventative measures, like teeth cleaning, are a must.
How Often Should You Have Your Teeth Cleaned?
The first step is to book an appointment for a dental checkup. Next, we will advise you on the recommended teeth cleaning frequency during this visit.
Our professional staff will make sure your gums are in a healthy state. And then we can get you back on a regular teeth-cleaning schedule.
Usually, we recommend 6 month cleaning intervals for patients with good oral health.
Does It Hurt To Get Your Teeth Cleaned?
If you have a significant buildup of plaque, the appointment can be up to an hour.
Pain is not generally associated with teeth cleaning, but discomfort is normal and expected during the procedure. If you experience dental anxiety, let the dentist know so they can advise a comfortable treatment plan.
Can Plaque Buildup Be Prevented?
Regular flossing and brushing can slow down the buildup. But there is no way to prevent it because our saliva has minerals that will harden the plaque into tartar and that is why regular cleaning is required.
Diet can also slow the buildup by not smoking or reducing sugary or starchy foods.
We Are Here To Help.
Give us a call at Apple Tree Dental to schedule teeth cleaning appointment.
Dental Cost Vs Tooth Damage
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Dental Cost Vs Tooth Damage
Increasing Cost Of Dental Care Due To Lack Of Dental Care
[1]It’s simple, really. Smaller issues are easier and more cost-effective to correct. Bigger dental problems require more difficult (and thus more costly) procedures and techniques.
You also need to consider the cost of your overall health and happiness. Thanks to advances in high-tech dentistry, extensive dental problems can often be corrected. However, there are some issues that will affect your long-term health and cause permanent damage. Some of the consequences of not taking a preventive approach to your dental care include:
- Tooth decay/cavities
- Root canals
- Extractions
- Gum disease
- Tooth staining
Let’s Crunch Some Numbers
If you’re covered by dental insurance, most providers cover a large portion if not the full cost of your dental exam and cleaning appointments. Even if you don’t have insurance, the cost of this type of preventive appointments is very affordable. While insurance is typically very helpful for preventive treatments, larger dental work is not always included. Meaning, if you’re facing gum disease, you’ll likely need to pay for the majority of the treatment out of pocket. Let’s take a closer look.
Say you’re covered by dental insurance and have an out-of-pocket premium of $360. When you visit your dentist twice a year for your routine visits, you pay a $20 copay. During these visits, your dentist helps prevent problems like cavities and gum disease through precise cleanings and dental education.
At the end of the year, you’ll have paid $400 for dental care (just over $1/day) and will have a beautiful, healthy smile to show for it. On the other hand, pretend you haven’t been to the dentist in 24 months when a tooth that’s been sensitive for a while starts to really cause you pain. You schedule an appointment and your dentist discovers you need a root canal.
The 5 Stages Of Tooth Decay
Demineralization‌
During the first stage of tooth decay, the outer layer of your teeth — the enamel — starts to weaken due to the presence of plaque.
Enamel is the toughest substance in your body — harder than your bones. However, the acid produced by plaque can demineralize and weaken enamel.
When demineralization sets in, you’ll likely start seeing white spots on your teeth. This is where the plaque has started whittling away your tooth enamel.
Enamel Decay‌
If you allow your enamel to continue breaking down, the white spots will start turning brown. Now, you’ve progressed to the second stage of tooth decay when the enamel starts to deteriorate and cavities begin to form.
You’ll need to get tooth fillings to prevent your cavities from growing larger. Your dentist will remove the decayed parts of the tooth and fill the hole with resin, gold, silver amalgam, or ceramic.
Dentin Decay
If your cavities aren’t filled in time, your dentin could eventually get damaged as well.
Tooth decay will speed up from this point on if you don’t see a dentist. You’ll know you are at this third stage of tooth decay when you start feeling extreme tooth sensitivity while drinking hot or cold drinks, especially sugary types, as well as while eating.‌
If dentin decay is identified early on, it can be fixed with a filling. If substantial damage has occurred, your dentist will likely remove the decayed portion of your tooth and place a crown over the remaining tooth structure.
Damaged Pulp
The pulp is the container, it’s the bottom-most part of your tooth and houses blood vessels and nerves that sustain and provide sensation to the tooth.
Once tooth decay has spread to the pulp, pressure will start to increase since your tooth can’t expand along with the pulp, causing pain. The last stage of pulp damage involves pulp death, also known as pulp necrosis.‌
You may experience the following symptoms when your pulp dies:
- Color of the tooth changes from white to grey to black
- Tooth has a bad smell
- Swelling around the tooth
- Unpleasant taste in your mouth‌
You’ll need to have a root canal to treat the tooth.
If a root canal won’t do the trick, you’ll likely need to have the tooth removed to avoid having the infection spread to other parts of your head. You may also have to take antibiotics to kill the bacteria.
Article compiled by AppleTreeDental.ca
Article Reference links:
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