Teeth do not bleed, gums do. When most people first experience the occurrence of bleeding gums, they often think that their teeth are damaged. To the contrary, the problem lies with the gums. Bleeding gums are a serious problem and often indicate an underlying issue that needs to be taken care of by a dentist. To protect your dental health and to reduce your risk of further developing dental issues, here are some of the underlying causes of bleeding gums and what you can do to remedy the situation.
Too Much Plaque
There are many underlying causes of bleeding gums, but perhaps the most obvious is that you have too much plaque beneath and around the tooth. Plaque has specific germs that are especially harmful to your gums. Once these germs accumulate under and around your teeth, they start to attack the healthy tissue. As a result, the gums become weaker and more prone to developing gum disease.
In addition to weakening, the gums also become inflamed and irritated, which can lead to long term pain and discomfort. The best way to remove the plaque is to brush on a regular basis, floss every day, and visit your dentist for a deep cleaning.
Gum Disease
If the bleeding gums are not simply due to the development of plaque, then another underlying cause may be gum disease. Gum disease comes in many forms, but at the end of the day, it starts with the same issue – poor dental hygiene. When you develop gum disease, the gums are unable to withstand even the simplest of tasks – such as flossing and brushing your teeth.
If you do have gum disease, which your dentist can diagnose for you, you may need to visit a periodontist for further treatment and care. Most of the time, gum disease is not reversible if it is at a serious stage. As a result, the earlier you catch it, the more immediate and useful action you can take.
Poor Nutrition and Tobacco Use
Two other causes of gum disease include poor nutrition and tobacco use. Poor nutrition weakens your gums and prevents them work working as they should. On the other hand, tobacco use attacks your gums and your dental health overall, thereby causing you major problems over the span of years. While you may not notice poor nutrition and tobacco instantly affect your gums, it is taking place subtly.
Rather than risk your overall dental health, it is best to take immediate action. Poor dental health can lead to numerous problems, including irreversible gum disease. Aside from contacting your dentist to schedule an appointment for a teeth cleaning and assessment, you should start adopting positive dental practices. For example, you should brush and floss your teeth on a daily basis. For optimal results, you should brush your teeth for a total of two minutes and floss very well. Over time, you will notice that your gums experience less bleeding.