How to Stop Bleeding Gums
Millions of American adults have gums that bleed when they brush or floss their teeth. While this is a common experience, bleeding gums can indicate a more concerning underlying problem. Below are more details on what causes bleeding gums and what steps you can take to treat them.
What Causes Bleeding Gums
There are many possible causes for bleeding and inflamed gums. Factors like brushing too aggressively, injury, pregnancy, and inflammation can lead to bleeding gums. Additionally, gum swelling, tenderness, and bleeding can also be a sign of periodontal disease, or gum disease. Identifying the possible cause of bleeding gums is key to determining the best treatment. If you notice your gums are bleeding, you should focus on maintaining your daily brushing and flossing routine, but try brushing lightly with a softer tooth brush. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, you should contact your dentist for an appointment to identify the cause and develop a treatment plan.
Tips to Stop Bleeding Gums
Fortunately, bleeding gums can be reversed and there is often a simple solution. Here are few of the most common solutions to stop the gums from bleeding:
- Practice good oral hygiene: Bleeding gums may be a symptom of poor oral hygiene. Gums become inflamed and bleed when there’s a buildup of plaque along the gum line. If you don’t brush or floss regularly, the bacteria in the plaque can spread and cause tooth decay or gum disease.
- Rinse your mouth with antimicrobial mouthwash: Adding mouthwash to your daily hygiene routine can help to remove plaque, promote gum health, and stop gum bleeding.
- Stop smoking: Smoking is linked to the development of gum disease. Smoking can weaken your body’s immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off plaque bacteria. Quitting smoking can help your gums heal and stop bleeding.
- Reduce stress: According to the research, emotional stress has a negative impact on the immune system, which can weaken the body’s ability to fight an infection. Stress may also cause some patients to neglect their daily oral hygiene practices which can also increase the risk of bleeding gums.
- Increase vitamin C and K intake: Eating foods rich in vitamin C can strengthen your immune system and help fight off the gum infections that cause bleeding gums. Foods high in vitamin C to consider eating include oranges, sweet potatoes, red peppers and carrots. Vitamin K is another important nutrient that helps your blood clot. A lack of Vitamin K may cause easy bleeding. Spinach, Kale, and collard greens are all rich in Vitamin K.
- Rinse your mouth with salt water: Regularly rinsing your mouth with warm salt water may help to reduce bacteria and stop gum bleeding. You can simply add half a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth for a few seconds three to four times a day.
When to See a Doctor
If your gums are bleeding regularly without improvement for 7-10 days, you should make an appointment to see your dentist. Your dentist will conduct an oral exam and help you determine the cause of the bleeding.