What Causes Bleeding Gums?
Bleeding gums can be an unsettling discovery, particularly when it happens without any warning, as it usually does. While gums that bleed briefly need not always be concerning, the persistence of bleeding from the gums is something to pay attention to. Particularly if it lasts longer than a couple days, it could be a sign of a larger issue; one that could threaten your oral or overall health.
Injury or trauma
One common cause of bleeding gums is simple injury or trauma. This could be an injury sustained while playing a sport, getting into a scuffle, being involved in a car accident, or even falling and hitting your mouth. In these cases, bleeding from the gums is likely not a surprise. If bleeding is heavy or persists, you or your child should be seen by a dentist as soon as possible to ensure that more extensive damage to teeth or other tissues is not hiding beneath the surface.
More minor injuries, including micro-tears or tiny lacerations caused by too-vigorous brushing or flossing can also cause some minor bleeding from the gums. This typically resolves on its own within a day or two. If it lasts the better part of a week, you may want to check in with your dentist to ensure that you don’t need some intervention to aid in healing.
Gingivitis
Perhaps the most common culprit when it comes to bleeding gums is gum disease. Gum disease is a three-stage progressive disease that starts with gingivitis. This is the stage during which bacteria present on the teeth in the form of plaque and tartar begin to invade the gums, causing an infection of the soft tissue. As your body responds to this infection, immune responses as well as the mounting infection can lead to gums that become red and swollen and may bleed when they are brushed or flossed.
While these are the classic signs and symptoms of gingivitis, it can also occur with no symptoms whatsoever. The best way to prevent gingivitis is simply to keep your teeth and mouth as clean as possible, which you can do via good daily oral hygiene practices, biannual dental visits, and healthy lifestyle choices like a nutrient-dense, low-sugar diet and an avoidance of tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption.
Periodontitis or Advanced Periodontitis
Caught in the initial stage of gingivitis, gum disease can be effectively treated by a professional cleaning of your teeth by a trained dental hygienist. This is often all that it takes to cure gingivitis. Left untreated, however, gingivitis can progress on to a second and then third stage – known as periodontitis and advanced periodontitis, respectively – that can no longer be cured, only managed. At this stage, infection expands to affect nearly all parts of the mouth, including soft and hard tissues. This can lead to tooth instability, tooth loss, and even bone loss in the jaw. Gums often pull away from the teeth at this point; they can also be discolored, swollen, and bleed. Treating gingivitis is much easier to do than managing advanced gum disease; if you notice any early signs that your gum health may be compromised, please call your dentist right away to seek evaluation and treatment.