Have you noticed lately that your gums have been bleeding while you have been brushing or flossing your teeth? Most people might ignore it and think it is normal, however bleeding gums can be a sign of gum disease or that your teeth are not in optimum health. Here are 3 reasons why your gums may be bleeding.
1. New Toothbrush/Flossing Routine
If you have gotten a new toothbrush it, the cause for your bleeding gums could be as simple as the fact that you are brushing a little too hard. New toothbrushes have hard bristles therefore when putting hard pressure on your gums, they are likely to become irritated and could bleed. Same goes for a new flossing routine; if you are new to flossing or trying a different technique your gums may need some adjusting and the new practise could cause irritation and bleeding. It's likely the bleeding in this case will go away within a week and when your gums become used to your new brush. Soft- bristled toothbrushes are a good way to avoid this from the beginning!
Brushing with a new toothbrush could cause your gums to bleed
2. Medications
There are certain medications that a person may take which may cause their gums to bleed. The 3 most common medications that cause oral bleeding are blood thinners, antidepressants and blood pressure medication. If you need to have a dental procedure and you are on medication like this, please make sure that you advise your dentist so that the correct precautions can be taken.
3. Gum Disease ( also known as gingivitis)
Gum disease is an inflammatory condition caused by bacterial infection. It’s a very common condition – in fact, most adults will experience it at least once in their lifetime. It’s much less common in children. Gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease that only affects the gum tissue surrounding the teeth. It's essentially inflammation of the gums and is caused by a build up of plaque and harmful bacteria in the mouth.
Gum disease is not usually painful in the early stages but keep an eye out for these signs and symptoms:
- Bleeding gums when you brush
- Red, swollen gums
- Bad Breath
You can read more about this in detail on our website here.
The quicker you treat bleeding gums, the better. If you would like to know more information about this and how it may be affecting you, you can call us at (03) 9087 2683 or fill out the contact form- and we will get in touch with you.
