Bleeding Gums

7 Reasons Your Gums are Bleeding

You’re trying too hard to brush.

You might think that brushing your teeth hard gets rid of more gunk and is better for your oral health because of this. But that is just a big old lie. The truth is that putting too much pressure on your gums when you brush can hurt them and even make them bleed. Even if it doesn’t make sense, it’s best to use less force. Here are some more tips on how to brush your teeth.

Your brush is too rough.

Putting a lot of pressure on your teeth and gums can be hard on them, and so can using a toothbrush with hard bristles. Hard bristles may be so rough that they make the gums bleed. This is why it’s better to use a brush with soft bristles instead.

You just got back to flossing.

If you stopped flossing for a while and just started doing it again, your gums may bleed the first few times you do it. Most of the time, this will stop once your gums get used to flossing regularly again.

You are taking some medicines.

Medications, especially those that thin your blood, can make your gums more likely to bleed. Talk to your dentist or doctor if you’re not sure if your bleeding gums are caused by a drug you’re taking.

You’re pregnant.

Some pregnant women get a condition called “pregnancy gingivitis” because of the changes in hormones that happen during pregnancy. The condition is marked by swollen gums that bleed when you brush your teeth. Most of the time, these symptoms go away after pregnancy, but you should still get to know your dentist well during your pregnancy. (This post has more information about pregnancy and dental health.)

Your dentures (or another device for your mouth) don’t fit right.

When oral appliances don’t fit right, they can rub against the gums and make them sore. In turn, this makes the gums more likely to bleed. The problem is easy to fix, though. Just go to your dentist so they can adjust the fit of your oral appliance and stop it from rubbing.

There are things wrong with your health.

Bleeding gums can be caused by a number of dental and/or medical problems. Some of these are gingivitis, periodontitis, diabetes, leukemia, scurvy, vitamin deficiencies, or blood disorders. If you have any of these health problems, you should work closely with your dentist and/or doctor to get the best care for your symptoms.

Don’t worry if your gums bleed often or for a long time, but do make an appointment with your dentist. They will be able to help you figure out why your gums are bleeding and come up with a treatment plan to keep your mouth healthy.