You Heard It From Your Dentist: What Your Bleeding Gums Are Trying To Tell You

Bleeding gums are a sign of a problem, ranging from tartar buildup to gum disease. It’s important to determine what’s causing the bleeding in order to stave off further complications. For instance, unchecked tartar can lead to tooth decay as well as gum disease, while gum disease can lead to tooth loss.

When in doubt, consult our dentists at Riverside Dental Care, who are dedicated to maintaining and improving the state of your smile. In the meantime, let’s explore a few potential causes of bleeding gums.

Bleeding Gums May Be A Sign You Have Gingivitis

If you fail to regularly brush and floss, plaque can build up on your teeth. Plaque is a soft, sticky, bacteria-laden film that can damage the enamel of your teeth, causing tooth decay. When left unchecked plaque hardens into tartar, a crusty deposit that forms along the gum line.

The Trouble With Tartar

Tartar is something you want to get rid of right away because it irritates your gums and makes it harder to remove plaque and bacteria. In fact, it creates a sort of shield where bacteria can thrive, which can lead to infection or disease. Because it creates such a strong bond with your teeth, tartar must be professionally removed by your dentist.

When Gingivitis Strikes

The longer built-up plaque and tartar remain, the more they irritate the gum around the base of your teeth. This leads to gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease characterized by gum inflammation. Bleeding gums is one of the characteristic symptoms of gingivitis, so take heed if you see blood on your toothbrush or when spitting out toothpaste—or after eating hard or crunchy foods. Other symptoms may include:

• Bad breath
• Mouth sores
• Receding gums
• Red and swollen gums
• Tender and irritated gums

Bleeding Gums May Be a Sign of Periodontitis

If left untreated, gingivitis can advance to a more serious condition called periodontitis. Periodontitis is a gum disease that causes damage to soft tissue and destroys the bone supporting your teeth. It can cause teeth to loosen or lead to tooth loss.

Some symptoms of periodontitis are similar to those of gingivitis: gums that are red, swollen, tender, receding and bleed easily. Other symptoms include:

• A difference in the way your teeth fit together when biting
• Bad breath
• Pain while chewing
• Pus between the teeth and gums
• Teeth that are loose

With today’s technological advances, lost teeth can be replaced with cosmetic dental procedures like dental implants. It’s much better, and cheaper, however, if you can save the teeth you have.

If you suspect you have periodontitis, make an appointment with our dentists as soon as possible. The sooner you get care, the better chance the ravages of periodontitis can be reversed.

Proper Dental Care Can Keep Your Gums Healthy

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When it comes to the health of your teeth and gums, this means it’s best to practice good dental care so you don’t develop problems in the first place.

Proper dental hygiene starts with brushing your teeth at least twice a day. Our dentists recommend using an electric toothbrush because they’ve been shown, through a number of studies, to be more effective than regular toothbrushes. Other ways to keep your teeth and gums in tip-top shape include:

• Flossing daily
• Getting your teeth regularly cleaned by your dentist
• Using an antimicrobial mouthwash

If you are worried about the state of your gums or are just looking for a dentist office in St. George that can take care of your general and cosmetic dentistry needs, contact us at Riverside Dental. We strive to give you quality of care you can smile about.