Seeing your gums bleed when you brush or floss can be scary. At that time, you may be curious to know the reason behind this bleeding. There can be various causes for your gums to bleed when you brush. In some cases, the bleeding may be due to a temporary condition, while in some cases, the underlying condition can be a cause of concern. You will be able to know about these reasons in detail during a dental visit. In this article, we will briefly discuss the top reasons why your gums may bleed.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis, better known as the first-stage gum disease, refers to a condition that involves irritation in your gum line due to plaque formation. This irritation makes the gum susceptible to bleed when you brush or floss. Gingivitis results in the swelling and tenderness of gums. Fortunately, you can reverse gingivitis by practicing good oral hygiene and visiting your dentist regularly.
Medications
According to the American Dental Association, the use of blood-thinning medications is one of the leading causes of bleeding gums, especially when you brush your teeth. Using these medications reduces the ability of your blood to clot significantly. You may want to discuss this issue with your dentist to know whether or not you need to find an alternative.
New flossing routine
Changing your flossing routine or starting it for the first time might also result in the bleeding of your gums. It is because your gums will take some time to adapt to a flossing routine or a change in this routine. The bleeding will subside as soon as your gums adapt to a flossing routine.
New toothbrush
Your dentist may suggest you to use a hard-bristled toothbrush at any point to promote effective cleaning. This change can result in the bleeding of your gums. This phenomenon is pretty similar to that related to the change in the flossing routine. If your gums continue to bleed after some time of changing your toothbrush, you may want to switch to a toothbrush with relatively softer bristles. You may want to discuss this issue with your dentist.
Pregnancy gingivitis
Pregnant women generally get swelling in their gums, which become more susceptible to bleed during brushing. This condition is generally known as pregnancy gingivitis. It is mainly due to the hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy. These hormonal changes alter the body’s response to bacterial infections. According to the American Pregnancy Association, these symptoms are not permanent and should clear away after pregnancy. Sticking to the best oral hygiene practice can help prevent gum problems from getting worse.
It is pertinent to note bleeding in the gums mostly occurs due to gingivitis, which is a mild and more manageable form of gum disease. But it doesn’t mean that a patient may become careless to the consequences of ignoring this condition. Leaving this problem untreated can lead to the symptoms becoming worse, which may represent an advanced form of gum disease. Advanced gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is not as manageable as gingivitis. It requires more aggressive treatment, which may involve deeper cleaning and, sometimes, a minor surgical treatment.
