So you wake up in the morning, brush your teeth, and notice that your gums have begun to bleed. It is not a lot of blood and it has happened before, but you find yourself wondering “is this normal”? Our dentists at Coral Springs Dental Center hear this question all of the time! While many people experience bleeding gums so often that they think it is no big deal, they actually should not be. If your gums are bleeding, there are a few reasons why this might be happening and some simple things you can do to rectify the problem.The first thing you must do is identify why your gums are bleeding. Gums may bleed because you are too aggressive with your dental hygiene routine. Coral Springs Dental Center recommends that you make sure to use a soft- bristled tooth brush and to floss thoroughly but gently. Make sure that your brush lasts around two minutes. Brushing for less than that will not adequately clean the teeth while brushing for too long will cause sensitivity and, yes, possibly bleeding. It is also important to use circular motions when brushing the teeth and gums as a back-and-forth stroke could tear the delicate tissue of the gums. If abrasive or over brushing and flossing is the issue, the problem should resolve itself within a few days once you switch to a more mild routine. However, if you make these changes and do not see results, there might be a more serious issue at hand.Another potential cause of bleeding gums is gum disease. The earliest stage of gum disease is gingivitis. Gingivitis is a result of bacteria infecting the gums due to dental hygiene that is not on par. While only your dentist will be able to give an official diagnosis, there are a few signs of gingivitis you can look for at home. Right off the bat you can check the color of your gums. If they are healthy, they should be a uniform pale-pink. Infected gums will have a patchy red hue. Next, check to see if there are pockets between your teeth and the gum line. When gums are healthy, they will be firmly attached to the teeth while gums a

ffected by gingivitis will begin to pull away from the teeth. The pockets created will house bacteria and exacerbate the gum disease and bleeding problem. Finally, gently press on your gums to check for any soreness. This is usually a pretty big giveaway of gum disease. The good news is that gingivitis is easily reversible. By adopting a good oral hygiene routine- brushing, flossing, and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash twice a day- early stages of gingivitis can be cured without the need for medication. Once the infection has cleared bleeding should stop. If signs of infection persist even with a new hygiene regimen, it is likely that you might be suffering from advanced gum disease- Periodontitis. It is imperative at this point to visit a dentist as Periodontitis can lead to serious issues if left untreated such as bone and ligament damage, loss of dentin, and even tooth loss. The Coral Springs Dental Center’s dentists will be able to clean out the infection and prescribe medicine to halt the progression of your gum disease and keep your smile healthy!It is easy to see why a little blood in the sink should be taken more seriously than most people originally might think. But don’t worry if you do see it from time to time, just make sure that you take the steps to fix it. Make sure to stay on top of your dental hygiene in order to prevent bleeding gums and the underlying issues that can cause them and don’t forget to schedule regular checkups with Coral Springs Dental Center to keep your whole mouth healthy and clean.

Bleeding Gums