A good oral hygiene routine should involve caring for your gum as much as you care for the teeth and the tongue. Neglecting any of these parts can lead to some avoidable oral health conditions like bleeding gums.
While the gum is the foundation of a healthy dental structure, as many as one in every two people suffer some kind of gum disease but only three percent of that population seek professional medical help. This statistic is only applicable to Americans and could be similar or even worse in some other parts of the world.
The bottom line is, taking proper care of your gum can help you avoid common gum problem like bleeding gums which is often the first sign of other advanced oral complications like a root canal.
Causes of Bleeding Gum
Plaque: the major culprit for bleeding gum is a plaque. Plaque harbors millions of bacteria which when left unremoved can lead to gingivitis – swollen and bleeding gums. Gingivitis or bleeding gum can quickly deteriorate to root canal otherwise known as periodontitis. This advanced dental condition has been associated with fatal health conditions such as heart attack. So it is very important that you visit a dentist as soon as you notice that your any sign of bleeding gum.
Other Possible Culprits
Apart from plaque, bleeding gums can be caused by other health conditions such as scurvy, hormonal changes, leukemia, and the use of blood thinners. The more reasons you should see a dentist regularly so the root cause can be identified and treated on time to avoid further complications.
Prevention and Treatments for Bleeding Gums
Brush Regularly Using a Toothbrush with Soft Bristle: Since the buildup of plaque is the main culprit for bleeding gum, engaging in effective oral hygiene routine is the first step to treating this condition.
Secondly, avoid using toothbrushes with stiff bristles as this can cause irritation of the gum line, leading to more bleeding. So, brush regularly using a toothbrush with soft bristle to ensure that food debris is properly removed.
Use Anti-Gingivitis Toothpaste: Using anti-gingivitis toothpaste is another way to fight this condition. There are a lot of brands producing this kind of toothpaste and your dentist should be able to recommend one for you. Anti-gingivitis toothpaste helps to neutralize the plaques allowing for deeper cleaning and repair of the weakened tooth enamels.
Floss Every Day: Flossing is a very important oral hygiene practice that helps to ensure that food debris and plaque are properly removed from the teeth. So, make sure that you floss every day as it will help reverse the condition and quicken the repair of the damaged gum line.
Lifestyle Changes: Habits like cigarette smoking has been found to be associated with gum diseases. If you want to avoid developing dental problems like bleeding gum, try as much as possible to stay away from tobacco. In addition, eat healthily and avoid between-meal snacking.
Visit a Dentist Regularly: In addition to the healthy oral hygiene practices highlighted above, scheduling professional cleaning sessions with your dentist at least twice a year is a great way to remove tartar and plaque that you can’t remove at home. A regular visit to your dentist will help to ensure that you do not develop gum diseases. And should it occur, early detection will help you to take measures to reverse the condition.
