The number of different conditions that can affect our teeth and the structures that make up our mouth is quite large and can have many signs and symptoms. Of all these symptoms, there is one that all people get to experience at some point in their lives, bleeding gums, and we usually notice it when we brush our teeth as part of our daily routine.
This can have many causes ranging from gum disease to poor nutrition; however, many people can become very nervous not knowing the cause of bleeding. As it is such a common situation that affects so many people, in this FastlyHealarticle, we will explain what bleeding gums indicate when brushing so that you can find the cause and solve the problem.
Table of Contents
Gum bleeding from disease
The care of the mouth does not only involve the teeth but that of all the structures that compose it. If we neglect our hygiene, the gums can become sick and produce a condition called gingivitis, which is the inflammation of the gum due to an accumulation of plaque. Any stimulus can cause inflamed gums to bleed in this state, the most common being toothbrushing.
If gingivitis is not controlled, it can progress to other more complicated forms of periodontal disease, such as periodontitis and periodontal abscess formation, which can also cause bleeding. Tooth abscesses can drain through the gum and form what is known as a fistula, through which pus and blood are expelled.
More clinical severe situations may develop in certain patients, such as necrotizing gum disease or other diseases that cause gum lesions that cause bleeding.
To avoid this, in the following FastlyHealarticle, you can find home remedies for gingivitis to treat this condition.
Poor oral hygiene cause bleeding.
Not all toothbrushes are the same; some are softer bristles, and others are stiffer bristles. If, for example, we use a soft brush, and when we buy a new one, it has stiff bristles, being used to using the old one, we can damage the gum, thus producing bleeding.
In people who do not use dental floss or any other additional hygiene element such as interproximal brushes and begin to include it in their hygiene routine, it is normal for there to be bleeding in the first days while the person learns the proper technique of implementation and tissues adapt to this new element.
Medicines that cause bleeding
Some medications can facilitate spontaneous gum bleeding or while brushing your teeth:
- The most common in this section are anticoagulants, which are drugs that thin the blood and make it, therefore, more fluid, reducing the factors that allow wound plugging. As a result, any wound that a person taking blood thinners suffers will bleed more heavily, including minor injuries from brushing.
- The contraceptive may cause bleeding due to hormonal changes that alter the normal condition of the gingiva.
- Another type of medicine in this section that causes bleeding less frequently is anticonvulsants, which after prolonged use, can cause gum enlargement that may be accompanied by bleeding.
- The drugs used in chemotherapies can cause inflammation of the gums and the appearance of ulcers in the mouth as a side effect, making the person more prone to spontaneous and provoked bleeding.
Physiological changes
Different changes in our body can lead to increased blood flow to the gums or cause inflammation through other mechanisms. Women are especially susceptible to this case due to the many hormonal changes they undergo at different stages, such as puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.
The stress continued also causes increased blood flow and impaired immune response. Therefore gums are more likely to catch fire.
Nutrition deficiencies
The vitamin C and K deficiencies in the diet can increase the risk of bleeding. Vitamin C contributes to the proper development of the gum cells and the healing process, which is why its deficiency compromises the structural integrity of the gum. On the other hand, vitamin K contributes to the coagulation process and, therefore, is essential for healing wounds in the mouth.
Gum bleeding: leukemia and scurvy
The primary disease often associated with bleeding gums is leukemia, a form of blood cancer that can cause bleeding from the gums and other parts of the body. Another disease related to bleeding gums is scurvy, caused by a deficiency of vitamin C.
Here we explain the symptoms of leukemia or the causes and symptoms of scurvy to detect if you may suffer from any of these diseases.
What to do when gums bleed when brushing
As we said in the beginning, this is a situation that we all go through at some point in our life; that is, most of the time, it does not have a severe cause. The most important thing is always to maintain good oral hygiene habits to reduce the chances of gingivitis or periodontitis, brush at the recommended times, and implement dental floss and mouthwashes in the oral hygiene routine.
Control visits with our dentist must be maintained at least once every six months. He is the right person to determine the definitive cause of bleeding and advise us when said bleeding is accompanied by pain, bad smells, or any other symptoms. Your dentist may offer you dental cleaning sessions to decrease the amount of plaque and calculus on the surface of your teeth and thus decrease gum inflammation and therefore bleeding.
Even when we know what the reason for the bleeding is and we can hardly modify it, such as the consumption of anticoagulants, our dentist can always give us advice on how to reduce this bleeding to stop worrying about it.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to What bleeding gums indicate when brushing , we recommend that you enter our Teeth and mouth category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.