Bleeding gums – causes and treatment
Bleeding gums are one of the most common and unpleasant symptoms of several oral diseases. It not only causes discomfort in everyday life but can also cause significant harm to your health if not treated early.
Why do gums bleed?
Periodontal disease is a common cause of bleeding gums. This can be gingivitis or periodontitis. What is the difference?
Gingivitis is the mildest form of gum disease and does not cause permanent changes to the oral tissues. With proper treatment, things can go back to normal fairly quickly. But if gingivitis is left untreated, it can develop into periodontitis, in which the bond between the tooth and gum collapses and the inflammation spreads from the gum to the bone. This is a much more serious condition, as the teeth become loose and can be lost.
What else can cause bleeding gums?
- Stomatitis
This is a lesion of the mucous membrane of the mouth, which in addition to bleeding is accompanied by small ulcers, bad breath, painful eating habits
- Incorrect hygiene products
If your toothbrush is too hard, it could damage your gums, especially if you use it too much. Also, be careful with dental floss and toothpicks, which can traumatise your gums.
- Surgical interventions
If your gums are bleeding in the first few hours after a tooth extraction or other surgical procedure, you have nothing to worry about. Simply follow your doctor’s advice. However, if bleeding persists for more than a day, you may want to see your doctor.
- Pregnancy
Pregnant women experience major hormonal changes and the gums may bleed a lot. You may also experience bleeding if you are being treated with hormones.
- Smoking
Smokers experience a significant decrease in the local immune system in the mouth, which results in inflamed gums and bleeding gums. Dentists are advised to break the habit – it can damage both the gums and the teeth.
- Vitamin deficiency
Vitamin C is the most important thing – if you don’t get enough of it, you may develop scurvy, which can result in tooth loss.
- Certain body diseases
Diabetes, leukaemia and haemophilia, for example. You may also experience bleeding gums if you take blood-thinning medication.
Where do I start if my gums are bleeding?
Typically gums can bleed gradually – at first you’ll see very little blood when you brush your teeth or eat solid food, but gradually the amount starts to increase. Remember that time is your best ally and it’s important to see your doctor as soon as you start to notice symptoms.
Treatment for bleeding gums should begin with a thorough diagnosis and identification of the cause. Keep in mind that bleeding, unless it is caused by mechanical trauma or external factors, is usually just one of the symptoms of oral disease (most commonly gingivitis or periodontitis). One modern and effective method is periodontal diagnosis using the Florida Probe computer system. This system, which has recently become an indispensable aid to periodontists, is capable of identifying the problem at an early stage in 25 minutes.
Ways to treat bleeding gums
The way bleeding gums are treated depends mostly on the cause of the bleeding. If we are talking about bleeding after surgery or trauma, care must be taken to avoid infection, but in general, the healing process will not require additional manipulation.
If we are talking about bleeding caused by gum disease, the cause of the inflammation must first be addressed. You can argue a lot about the effectiveness of folk methods, but no home recipe can cure gums – relief will come only temporarily while the symptoms are blocked, but then everything will return with renewed vigour. So it’s important not to rely on folk medicine but to trust your health to professionals.
Among the methods that have proven to be beneficial is the Vector Paro treatment, which involves treating the periodontal pockets with ultrasound. This is where the deposits accumulate, which often leads to inflammation and bleeding. Treatment involves several sessions, but already after the first one, the discomfort is significantly reduced, gums have a healthy colour and bleeding is reduced.
After treatment with the Vector Paro device, it is recommended to treat the result with photodynamic therapy. This is a light-activated disinfection procedure with FotoSan, which kills germs without any side effects.
Prevention of bleeding gums
The most effective prevention of bleeding gums is good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice a day, and use extra hygiene products (irrigators, flossing, rinses, etc.). And of course, don’t forget to visit your dentist for check-ups and professional hygiene procedures.
Still, have questions? Ask us!
Bleeding gums are a serious symptom that needs to be treated immediately. Many people only go to the doctor when the problem has already reached an advanced stage. Remember, the earlier you seek treatment, the easier and quicker the problem can be resolved. Our team of periodontists are standing by to properly diagnose and treat your bleeding gums long-term.
Bleeding gums are one of the most common and unpleasant symptoms of several oral diseases. It not only causes discomfort in everyday life but can also cause significant harm to your health if not treated early.
