How to stop bleeding gums?

You’re at the sink brushing your teeth perfectly happily. Then comes that first spit and a nasty shade of red swirls down the plug hole.

Well, chances are its blood and it can happen to the best of us, even the ones who take dental and oral health care seriously.

What causes gums to bleed?

Bleeding gums can be painful. It can also be a sign of something more serious or an early indication of gum disease. The bleeding is a result of an inflammation in the gums that is likely caused by build-up plaque or too vigorous brushing.

Let’s find out what steps you need to follow to maintain good dental hygiene and how to stop and care for bleeding gums.

Don’t brush too hard

Beginning with the obvious, non-disease-based solution, do you attack your teeth in a way that is too hard? Ease back and get a softer toothbrush. While your teeth might be armoured with enamel, your gums sure aren’t and those bristles can do more harm than good with overly voracious brushing or unnecessarily hard bristles. This is the easiest way to get rid of inflamed gums. You don’t need to physically assault your teeth for a perfectly good clean.

Get rid of plaque and tartar

As if plaque isn’t bad enough on its own, it turns into a nasty, hard and sticky substance called tartar when allowed to build up. And that’s bad news for both your teeth and your gums. Plaque bacteria cause gum disease and tartar is also the perfect breeding environment for more bolshy bacteria.

If nothing is done about it by regular, correct brushing, your problems go below the gum line and that’s when gums get infected, swollen and start to bleed.

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Consider other conditions

Is something else causing your gums to bleed? Do you have a vitamin deficiency? Do you suffer from diabetes, leukaemia or some form of heart disease? Are you taking blood thinning medications?

gums can even be caused by badly fitted dentures or hormonal changes during pregnancy.

So, all that considered, how to cure bleeding gums?

Consult an expert

After all that, the best advice is not to try and diagnose the issue yourself. If your gums are inflamed, it’s probably due to some sort of a gum disease and the only person who can recommend treatment is a proper dental professional. They can advise you on any ongoing periodontal or gum treatments are needed to rectify the problem.

How to prevent bleeding gums?

Find out how to cure bleeding gums and prevent the bleeding by following these easy dental care tips:

• The best way to take care of your gums and teeth is to brush for a few minutes twice a day and after meals
• Make sure you use a decent, softer toothbrush, not the dental equivalent of a wire brush
• Floss at least once a day
• Plaque absolutely loves carbohydrates and sugars. So watch what you eat, keep it as healthy as you can and resist between-meal snacking. If you notice bleeding gums, don’t rinse with mouthwash as that can dry out your mouth and make things worse. Instead, rinse with salted water and, if the bleeding continues, make a dental appointment.

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