By Medicover Hospitals / 20 Feb 2022

In most cases, people can treat mild bleeding gums at home. Gum bleeding can be treated and prevented with good oral hygiene. Gum bleeding is common and not serious. After brushing or flossing, an individual can notice any blood, which may irritate sensitive gums. The most common reason gums bleed is plaque or tartar buildup. These substances allow bacteria to grow along the gum line. Good oral hygiene can prevent sensitivity and bleeding.

Overview of Bleeding gums

Bleeding gums are inflamed or irritated pink tissue around the mouth that bleeds easily. Gum bleeding is a common oral health problem. If your gums bleed while brushing or flossing, you can ignore it thinking it's normal, but bleeding gums can sometimes indicate an underlying problem. Occasional bleeding from the gums can be caused by brushing your teeth too hard or wearing dentures that don't fit well. Frequent bleeding from the gums can also show more serious conditions, including:

Periodontitis (an advanced form of gum disease)
Leukemia (blood cancer)
Vitamin deficiency
Lack of clotting cells (platelets)

Causes

Gingivitis: Gum bleeding is a symptom of gingivitis or gum inflammation. A build-up of plaque on the gum line causes this normal and mild type of gum disease. Your gums may be sore, red, and swollen if you have gingivitis. When you brush your teeth, they will bleed.
Periodontitis: Periodontal disease, also known as periodontitis, is a long-term gum infection that affects the tissue and bone that protect the teeth if it is not treated. Periodontitis causes your gums to become inflamed and swollen, causing them to detach from the roots of your teeth. It may be a symptom of periodontal disease if the gums bleed quickly.
Diabetes: Gums that are bleeding or swollen may be a symptom of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. When you have this disease, your mouth is not as powerful at fighting germs, so you are more likely to get infections such as gum disease. The high blood sugar levels that accompany diabetes make it harder for your body to heal, which can make gum disease worse.
Leukemia: Gum bleeding is a symptom of leukemia, which is cancer. Platelets in the blood assist in the prevention of bleeding. Your platelet count is poor if you have leukemia. This makes stopping bleeding in various areas of the body, including your gums, impossible.
Hemophilia or Von Willebrand disease: If you have gum bleeding or heavy bleeding when a minor cut or dental work is done, it may be a sign of a disorder such as Hemophillia or von Willebrand disease. With these conditions, your blood doesn't clot properly, so you may have bleeding gums.
Scurvy: Scurvy, a condition linked to inadequate diet, can be caused by an extreme lack of vitamin C in the body. It will make it brittle, causing anemia, and cause skin bleeding. Scurvy is characterized by bleeding gums.

Diagnosis

The dentist can diagnose the cause of bleeding gums by visually examining the oral cavity. Visual signs such as receding gum lines, swollen gums, light bleeding from dental equipment, and cavities can help dentists easily diagnose the causes of bleeding gums. However, if your dentist notices your teeth are in good health, they will most likely recommend blood tests to help determine what could be the cause. The dentist may also ask you questions about your medical history to help identify causes. Rather, they may refer you to a general practitioner or another specialist physician to help you get an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment

The best way to prevent gum bleeding is to adopt a healthy lifestyle that prevents diseases that cause gum bleeding. Gum bleeding and other gum complications can also be stopped and minimized by:

Practice good oral health care, including brushing twice a day and flossing once a day
Replacement of toothbrushes every 3 to 4 months
Visit the dentist regularly
Make regular appointments with the hygienist for professional cleaning and tartar removal
See a doctor regularly to check for health problems that may contribute to gum problems, such as diabetes
Avoid smoking or work with a doctor to quit smoking
Eat a healthy diet that includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and limit processed foods and foods with added sugars

When to visit a Doctor?

See a dentist if gum bleeding does not improve in 7 to 10 days. To extract plaque and tartar and encourage gum healing, you can need a deep dental cleaning. Your doctor may also order lab tests to check for any vitamin deficiencies that can cause bleeding gums. Vitamin deficiencies such as vitamin C or K, pregnancy, and certain medical conditions can also contribute to bleeding gums. People should see their doctor or dentist if the bleeding does not go away after trying to treat this symptom at home. A dentist can also take care of the overall health of a person's mouth and detect major problems, such as the early stages of mouth cancer.

Home Remedies:

Adopt good oral hygiene:

Bleeding gums can be a sign of poor dental hygiene.
The gums become inflamed and bleed when there is a buildup of plaque along the gum line. Dental plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that covers your teeth and gums. And if you don't brush or floss enough, bacteria can spread and cause cavities or gum disease.
To improve oral hygiene, brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss once a day. Here are some more tips for keeping your teeth healthy.
Good oral hygiene is especially important for pregnant women. Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy can also trigger gum disease and bleeding gums.

Rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide

You can keep hydrogen peroxide on hand to use as a disinfectant. It turns out that it can also remove dental plaque, promote healthy gums, and stop bleeding gums. If your gums are bleeding, rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide after brushing, but do not swallow the solution.
Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums, and this condition can cause bleeding, swelling, and receding gums.

Stop smoking

Besides increasing the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke, smoking is linked to gum disease. Smoking is a major cause of severe gum disease in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Smoking can weaken your body's immune system, making it harder for your body to fight plaque bacteria. This can lead to gum disease.
Quitting smoking can help your gums heal and stop the bleeding. Talk to your doctor about the best way to help you quit smoking.

Increase your vitamin C intake

Eating foods rich in vitamin C can boost your immune system and help fight gum infections that cause bleeding gums.
Conversely, not getting enough vitamin C in your diet can make bleeding worse if you have gum disease. Vitamin C deficiency can also lead to bleeding gums, even if you practice good oral health habits.
Foods rich in vitamin C include:
- Oranges
- Sweet potatoes
- Red peppers
- Carrots
You can also ask your doctor to take a vitamin C supplement. As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C strengthens connective tissue and protects the lining of your gums, so you'll want to make sure you're getting enough vitamin C per day. The recommended daily amount of vitamin C for adults is between 65 and 90 milligrams daily.

Increase your vitamin K intake

Taking vitamin K supplements can also relieve bleeding gums. Vitamin K is an important nutrient because it helps the blood to clot. A deficiency can cause easy bleeding, and one study found that it could lead to bleeding gums.
Foods rich in vitamin K include:
- spinach
- green cabbage
- kale
- mustard leaves
The Office of Dietary Supplements recommends adult men receive 120 micrograms and women 90 micrograms of vitamin K per day.

Apply a cold compress

Bleeding gums are not always caused by gum disease. Your gums may also bleed because of trauma or injury to the gum tissue.
A cold compress applied to the gum line can reduce swelling and restrict blood flow to stop the bleeding. Apply an ice pack or a cold cloth to your gums several times a day, 20 minutes of walking, and 20 minutes of rest.

Drink green tea

Drinking green tea daily can also reverse periodontal disease and stop bleeding gums. Green tea contains catechin, a natural antioxidant that can reduce the body's inflammatory response to bacteria in the mouth.

Rinse your mouth with saltwater

Because bacteria and inflammation in the mouth cause gum disease, regularly rinsing your mouth with a mixture of warm salt water can also reduce bacteria and stop bleeding gums.
Add half a teaspoon of salt to a glass of lukewarm water and rinse your mouth for a few seconds three to four times a day. If the bleeding is because of an injury or trauma, rinsing with a mixture of saltwater also keeps your mouth clean and removes bacteria that could cause infection.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is bleeding gums a sign of?

The main cause of bleeding gums is plaque buildup on the gum line. This will lead to a condition called gingivitis or swollen gums. If plaque is not replaced, it may harden and become tartar.

2. Can bleeding gums be a sign of something serious?

Occasional bleeding from the gums can be caused by brushing your teeth too hard or wearing dentures that don't fit well. Frequent bleeding from the gums can also indicate more serious conditions, such as periodontitis and leukemia.

3. Are bleeding gums an emergency?

Bleeding gums are typically a symptom of gum disease and may be handled with the aid of an emergency dentist. They will probably perform a deep dental cleaning or scaling and root planing procedure to help clear any infection within the gums.

4. Do bleeding gums mean infection?

Gums that are bleeding or swollen may be a symptom of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. When you have diabetes, your mouth is not as powerful at fighting germs, so you are more likely to get infections such as gum disease.

5. Should I keep brushing bleeding gums?

If your gums continue to bleed after brushing, you should see your dentist have your oral health checked. Gum pain, redness, or bleeding shouldn't happen every day.