We all know that a good oral hygiene routine is vital to keep teeth and gums healthy, but what if your gums bleed when you’re brushing your teeth? There can be many reasons for bleeding gums, and it’s important that you understand more about why gums may bleed in order to help to resolve the problem.
Bleeding gums can be a side effect of pregnancy, or of being on the contraceptive pill, due to the higher levels of oestrogen and progesterone in the body. However, gums can also bleed as an early indicator that there is a problem with the oral hygiene routine or the health of the mouth, especially the development of gingivitis, the earliest form of gum disease.
What To Do If Your Gums Are Bleeding
- Check out your toothbrush. The cause of bleeding gums can sometimes be as simple as a toothbrush that is too
hard. Using a softer brush can allow you to clean your teeth and gums more thoroughly without causing pain or damage to the gums. Experiment
with using dental floss compared with dental tape, and ask the dentist or dental hygienist to show you the correct way to floss to avoid
cutting into your gums. - Change your oral hygiene routine. It’s really important to brush your teeth well twice a day, and to floss on
a daily basis. Flossing is essential to remove the plaque that can otherwise build up between your teeth, and simply making the change to
flossing every day can stop your gums from bleeding. - Look at your diet. Eating healthy foods is an important way to keep your teeth and gums healthy, and you may
find that making simple changes to your diet helps to stop your gums from bleeding when you brush your teeth. Sugary snacks and sweets can
increase your risk of gum disease, as sugar creates the perfect environment for plaque to grow. - Consider medicines. If you are taking any form of prescription or over the counter medicine, you should find
out whether this might be the cause of your bleeding gums. You can discuss this with your doctor if he or she has prescribed medication for
you, and you may be advised to try a different treatment to prevent this problem. - Visit a dentist. You should see your dentist on a regular basis anyway, but if none of the above suggestions
have helped to stop your gums from bleeding while brushing, you should visit your dentist as soon as possible. You may require x-rays or
further investigations to rule out underlying health conditions, or you may be referred for further treatment
Visit Your Family Dentist in Cork
If you’re searching for a Cork Dentist who can advise you on all aspects of your oral health and keep your teeth looking and feeling great, look no further than Guiney Dental Clinic, where our experts are on hand to help! Call today on 021-481 0535.