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Gums can make or break a smile, so don’t let your smile’s potential be spoiled by red, sore, puffy or bleeding gums.
Periodontal disease is commonly known as gum disease. It is a common health problem which destroys healthy gum tissue attached to the roots of teeth, causing:
Research has also found a strong connection between gum disease and serious health risks such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that periodontal disease is a widespread health problem estimated to affect up to half of the adult population. The disease destroys the healthy gum attachment to the roots of the teeth, leading to gum infection, gum recession, bone loss around the teeth and halitosis as well as making gums bleed excessively. If untreated, you can easily make severe gum disease even worse, which will lead to tooth loosening, drifting and tooth loss.
Because the cause of bleeding gums is usually poor oral hygiene, making a conscious effort early on to improve your hygiene habits can help restore your gums to full health quickly – if they’re not too far gone – and stop bleeding gums (more on that in a moment).
Brushing your teeth two to three times a day is an absolute must and is the foundation of good oral hygiene if you don’t want to develop gum disease. However, if you fear your current toothbrush may be aggravating your gums, using a soft-bristled brush could help as your gums heal.
Beyond this, regular flossing, using antibacterial mouthwash, and avoiding gum-damaging habits (like smoking) will all help greatly to improve your oral hygiene levels and prevent gums bleeding. The important thing is to never ignore bleeding gums as they will likely be a sign of underlying conditions. If your gums are bleeding excessively, you could be suffering from advanced gum disease, in which case you should speak to a dental professional as soon as possible.
Speaking of bleeding gums, while periodontal disease is a clear cause of the condition, gums can actually begin bleeding due to several factors, including:
While taking extra special care during brushing and flossing is always wise, it is possible to apply too much pressure or vigour to the motions you make. Brushing or flossing too harshly can actually cause more harm than good, which is why a firm yet gentle touch is always advised.
If a previous dentist has given you a set of dentures but they’ve not been properly fitted to match your mouth shape, there’s a chance they could be aggravating you, causing your gums to bleed. If you think this might be the case, speak to the team at The Windsor Centre for Advanced Dentistry and we’ll be able to help.
A side effect of diabetes is that your body produces less saliva. It might surprise you to learn that saliva has multiple uses in the functions of the mouth, two of which are that it protects and moisturises the gums. Without this extra line of defence, gums can be more prone to bleeding.
Smoking is known to cause yellowing teeth, but this isn’t necessarily what causes bleeding gums. Because smoking lowers the effectiveness of the immune system, the body isn’t as primed to deal with gum disease when it strikes, meaning bleeding gums could show themselves much sooner.
Heightened stress levels have been linked to inflammation in the body, and when the gums become inflamed they’re far more likely to bleed with even the lightest pressure.
However, it is important to remember that most cases of bleeding gums are down to poor oral health choices made by the individual. This is why it is imperative to always follow good oral health standards and to visit your dentist regularly to prevent gum disease and gum bleeding. But if you feel as though your bleeding gums are becoming more regular, and you’ve done everything you can to prevent the leading causes of bleeding gums, it’s time to seek the advice of a specialist, like the experts at The Windsor Centre for Advanced Dentistry.
If serious intervention is needed and the gums have become infected, or the condition has caused them to lose their firmness and recede, it may be necessary to remove the affected tissue to prevent spreading.
If you’re concerned your bleeding gums are the symptom of something far worse, speak to the team at the Windsor Centre for Advanced Dentistry. A quick examination will soon determine the level of periodontal treatment you require, if any, and set your mind at ease.
There is no doubt that the best solution for bleeding gums is prevention, not cure. The progression of milder cases of gum disease can often be halted via careful home care and regular professional cleaning, but it’s difficult to cure more advanced forms. It is therefore essential to seek help promptly if you notice that your gums are bleeding, or any of the other symptoms like thick or swollen gum tissue.
Prior to any treatment, however, it’s essential to identify the factors contributing to the bleeding gums – such as poor oral hygiene or badly fitting crowns – so that these can first be addressed and brought under control.
The main dental treatment for inflamed gums is scaling and oral hygiene instruction. Other options include surgical procedures such as gingivectomy, which involves removing some of the affected gum tissue, or flap surgery.
Take a look through our case studies or call us to learn more about effective treatment options for bleeding gums – so that you can make the most of your smile.
Are you suffering from bleeding gums? If so, you can benefit from the expert, thorough, award-winning treatment from world-renowned dentist Dr Tidu Mankoo and his team.
View our Meet the Team page to find out more about the credentials of Dr Mankoo and the rest of the specialists here at The Windsor Centre for Advanced Dentistry.
