The 8 Conditions Leading to Bleeding Gums. It is Best Not to Ignore Them!

Bleeding gums happen when you brush or floss. However, gums can also bleed on their own, when eating food like an apple, it can simply ooze. The important thing that you must know is that bleeding gums must not be ignored, especially when facing frequent bleeding.

Gingivitis Leads to Bleeding Gums

Plaque refers to debris and bacterias that stick to the teeth. If it stays on the teeth for too long, it will cause gingivitis. A condition where the gums become inflamed. The good news is brushing and flossing can remove plaque, but if not done correctly, plaque will stay on the gum line. Over time, that plaque hardens and converts into tartar which causes bleeding.

Many people avoid brushing and flossing at this stage as they think bleeding gums will simply go away. Nothing is further from the truth. The only way to eliminate bleeding gums at this stage is to become more aggressive with daily oral hygiene habits. For example, if you normally brush twice a day and floss once a day, double the frequency. Also, it will help, if you massage the gums with your finger to improve blood flow and healing.

Periodontitis Causes Bleeding Gums

Periodontitis is an advanced form of gingivitis. Periodontal disease is the infection of gums, jawbone, and supportive tissues that connect your gum and teeth. It can cause loosening of teeth, and teeth may even fall out. This stage of gum infection is reached when gingivitis is ignored. There are other signs of periodontitis, such as changes in the color of the gums, from pink to more dark purple, bad odor and breath, visible yellowish tartar, and stain. Periodontal disease represents the number one global pandemic among chronic infections and is estimated nearly 4 billion people suffer from periodontitis and bleeding gums.

If you suffer from periodontitis, you must visit a dentist. Depending on the stage of periodontitis, your dentist may recommend a deep cleaning, a periodontal flap surgery, or even extraction to eliminate the infection and restore your gum health back to normal condition.

Vitamin Deficiencies Results in Bleeding Gums

The deficiency of vitamin K and Vitamin C can cause bleeding gums even with a good level of oral hygiene. The possible reason for bleeding gums is your body can be vitamin deficient. The lack of enough vitamins could be a result of the body’s inability to absorb vitamins or simply not enough daily intake through food or supplements.

Ask your doctor to check your levels of vitamin C and vitamin K. Your doctor may prescribe you vitamin C and K supplements and even recommend you follow a diet plan to ensure you are getting the required amount of vitamins.

Here are some foods to consider that are rich in vitamin C:

• Potatoes
• Bell peppers
• Strawberries
• Broccoli
• Tomatoes

Here are some foods rich in vitamin K:

• Spinach
• lettuce
• Canola oil
• Olive oil
• Soybeans
• Kale

Blood Disorders Resulting in Bleeding Gums

1. Thromobocytopenia

The most common bleeding disorder resulting in gum bleed is thrombocytopenia. In this condition, your body does not have enough platelets to form a blood clot. This can lead to bleeding from the gums and other parts of the body. platelet are small cells that act as a plugger of blood vessels after an injury. So for example, when brushing teeth, the gums can easily be injured by the bristles and low platelet count will result in continued bleeding.

2. Blood Cancer

Also known as leukemia, in this condition, your platelet count is low, which can lead to bleeding from gums. Leukemia is often associated with some type of childhood emotional trauma [1].

3. Hemophilia

Also known as Von Willebrand disease. Von Willebrand factor helps platelets to adhere to each other and form a clot. In this disease, the von Willebrand factor is deficient. Despite having the normal level of platelets, bleeding will not stop as platelets will not be able to adhere to each other and form a clot.

Diabetes

People suffering from diabetes have somewhat immunocompromised bodies. Diabetics are prone to gum disease which is a leading cause of bleeding gums. Also, when a diabetic person gets a gum infection, he may not be able to fight the infection properly, and this can result in delayed healing and bleeding gums. [2]

Dentures

People who wear dentures may also suffer from gum bleeding if their dentures are too tight for them.

Final Verdict About Bleeding Gums

Whenever experiencing bleeding gums, you must not ignore it and visit a doctor. Your doctor will be able to help identify the underlying cause, and so you can get it under control immediately.

References:

1. https://oralcancerfoundation.org/emotional-aspects/mind-body-connection/
2. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-complications/gum-disease.html

DentistConsultationHub is an online platform connecting patients to the best dentists locally or overseas. You can Get a Quote, by posting your treatment requests and receiving multiple quotes. Review each quote, the dentist profile and once you decide on a favorite dentist, deposit the funds into an escrow account until the work is completed. The service is Free of charge to patients.

Do you know someone who is shopping for a dentist? Send them LOVE  by sharing our page on their Facebook page so they can save time and money by not visiting multiple dentists.

Recommended dental products to improve oral hygiene and minimize bleeding gums.