Bleeding gums

Bleeding gums

Bleeding gums are very common, and this is probably the reason why they are not taken seriously. Classically, it occurs after brushing your teeth or after biting into a hard food like apple. Most of the time, it is caused by gingivitis, but can sometimes be indicative of a more general disorder. In any case, it is never trivial.

Bleeding gums associated with local factors

Gum bleeding varies in duration, frequency, severity, and how easily it can be caused. A distinction is thus made between recurrent bleeding and acute bleeding.

Chronic recurrent bleeding

Recurrent gum bleeding is almost always a manifestation of gingivitis of bacterial origin1. This disease affects, to varying degrees, almost the entire population.

Bacteria are deposited on the surface of the teeth and gradually form a substance called dental plaque. This plaque, when not sufficiently removed by brushing, can attack the gum tissue and cause an inflammatory reaction. The gum is then weakened and the tissues which constitute it are likely to cause hemorrhage at the slightest contact. The bleeding therefore occurs after a mechanical trauma: tooth brushing, the use of a toothpick, food retention, teeth grinding (bruxism) or by probing. If this inflammation is not eliminated, it will slowly but gradually lead to periodontitis which can lead to loss of tooth attachment.

Acute bleeding

Occasionally, bleeding from the gums may occur without this being indicative of a condition. Traumatic irritation of the gum tissue from particularly aggressive tooth brushing or sharp pieces of hard food causes bleeding even in the absence of gingivitis. Burns to the gum from hot food could also cause bleeding2.

 

Gum bleeding associated with general disorders

There are general disorders in which gingival hemorrhage can occur without necessarily being associated with gingivitis or caused by mechanical irritation:

  • vascular abnormalities (vitamin C deficiency or allergy such as Henoch Schonlein’s purpura);
  • hypoprothrombinemia (vitamin K deficiency);
  • blood platelet disorders: idiopathic purpura, trombocytopenic following a diffuse lesion of the bone marrow;
  • coagulation disorders (hemophilia, leukemia or Christmas disease);
  • a deficiency of the thromboplastic factor of the blood platelets following uremia;

The bleeding tendency can also be a consequence of excessive administration of certain drugs such as salicylates, anticoagulants or anxiolytics.

 

How to react to bleeding gums?

Most people do not react to bleeding gums and do not understand the consequences. They basically link oral cavity problems to dental care and teeth whiteness. However, gingivitis and periodontitis often go unnoticed because they are not accompanied (initially) by particular pain or aesthetic problems. However, you should know that gingival bleeding is abnormal: a healthy gum has a pink color and does not bleed by simple contact.

Good oral hygiene

If the problem is caused by bacterial inflammation (and the likelihood is high), the plaque should be removed so that the inflammatory changes go away quickly. To do this, you need to improve your oral hygiene and brushing. It is advisable to brush your teeth two to three times a day, after meals and not forgetting the gums. For this, the movement of the brush must be carried out from the gum towards the tooth and by tilting the bristles of the brush at 45 °.

Moreover, according to some recent studies3, electric brushing would be recognized today as more effective than manual brushing. The daily use of dental floss or an interdental brush is strongly recommended to eliminate food particles or bacteria that may nest between the teeth.

Consult a dentist

If the stage of gingivitis is too advanced or if hygiene measures are not sufficient to stop the bleeding, it is imperative to consult a dentist. It is anyway recommended to see it regularly (ideally every year) in order to prevent and cure all early ailments.

Sources

REULAND BOSMA W., VAN DIJK J., VAN DER W EELE L. Experimental gingivitis around deciduous teeth in c hildren with down’s syndrome J. Clin. Periodontol., 1986, 13 (4): 294-300 Source: REULAND BOSMA W., VAN DIJK J., VAN DER W EELE L. Experimental gingivitis around deciduous teeth in c hildren with down’s syndrome J. Clin. Periodontol., 1986, 13 (4): 294-300 MILNE AM gingival bleeding in 848 Army Recruits. An assessme nt brit. Br. Dent J., 1967, 122 (2): 111-112 Comparison of reduction of gingivitis and plaque over time by Sonicare FlexCare Platinum with compact brush head and manual toothbrush. Ward M, Argosino K, W Jenkins, Milleman J, K Milleman, Nelson M, S Souza, data on file, 2012.

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