Your teeth are not the only important parts of your mouth to protect when you are reviewing your dental hygiene regimen. Your gums are vital in keeping your teeth in place, providing a safe space for them to rest as they sit in the jaw. You will want to take good care of your gums, by eating a healthy well-balanced diet, brushing and flossing your teeth, and drinking water to help keep your teeth bacteria-free.
Your gums may bleed for various reasons. You may be brushing your teeth too hard, so an easy fix is to replace your hard-bristle toothbrush with a soft-bristle toothbrush, and using a gentle circular motion when brushing, instead of a hard sawing across the tooth surface.
Gingivitis is a common cause of bleeding gums, and is a painless inflammation stemming from a buildup of plaque. You can fix this with daily brushing and flossing, which will also improve your breath.
Anemia is another cause of gum disease, and this stems from an iron deficiency. Women can experience anemia from prolonged periods during menses, not to mention the hormonal changes that occur which can cause a chemical imbalance in the mouth that can adversely affect the gums.
Periodontitis is a gum infection that can destroy the jawbones supporting your teeth. If periodontitis is caught in the early stages, your dentist may remove the tartar and bacteria from your tooth and under the gums, smooth the surfaces, and prescribe antibiotics to get rid of the infection. Advanced periodontitis may require surgery, soft tissue or bone grafting, to name just a few things designed to repair your gums.
Bottom line, don’t ignore bleeding gums and do everything you can to keep your gums healthy to support your pearly whites! Please call our office anytime if you have questions regarding your oral health 435.867.0644.