Why your gums bleed when you brush your teeth
We have various concerns when it comes to our oral and dental health, and one of the most common among them is gum bleeding. It can be very uncomfortable when you’re brushing you teeth, and all of the sudden you see blood drops on the sink. Is it happening to you that when you brush your teeth your gums start bleeding? Gum bleeding is an indicator of improper oral hygiene. Read more to learn a list of reasons on why your gums bleed when you brush your teeth.
Improper Oral Hygiene Regimen
First things first. In order to prevent your gums from bleeding, you must first adhere to a complete oral care routine. Begin with acquiring the best toothbrush for you. Don’t forget to replace your toothbrush regularly, do you know how often you should change your toothbrush? Dentists recommend every 3-4 months.
Even if it is tempting to only brush your teeth once a day due to your hectic day to day schedule, remember that you need to brush at least twice a day or ideally after every meal in order to remove plaque from your teeth which may eventually irritate your gums and cause it to bleed. You may also consider including regular flossing in your oral care to further eliminate bacteria and food debris inside the mouth. If you don’t brush your teeth at least twice a day, then you need most likely require deep cleaning in the future, which is often done to patients with periodontal disease.
Most importantly, don’t forget to give your general dentist a visit semiannually or as regularly as possible. Your dentist can help you in identifying oral problems such as bleeding gums and will be able to give you advise on how to keep your gums and your oral health in the best shape.
Unhealthy diet
Cliché as it may seem, our gums, just like the rest of the parts of our body needs proper nutrition too. Recommended diet to maintain healthy gums include foods that are rich in Vitamin C. Ascorbic Acid or most commonly known as Vitamin C strengthens the blood vessels surrounding your gums and also minimizes inflammation which is common in bleeding gums. You should also try eating foods that have high water content like cucumbers, apples and celery in order to aid in hydrating your gums. Drinking a lot of water can help too in hydrating gums especially when they are painful and inflamed. You may also want to chew on firm foods such as hard cheese or celery stalks in order to trigger saliva production which will help in neutralizing mouth bacteria that usually cause gums to bleed.
Medications taken
There are specific medications that may trigger gum bleeding such as anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin. Aspirin is indicated to decrease inflammation or treat pain but it also thins the blood, thereby causing bleeding. In some cases, it may lead to gum bleeding as a side effect. Keep in mind to openly communicate your concerns with your prescribing physician in terms of side effects like bleeding gums, even if it is not as life-threatening as compared to other drug side effects.
Stress
Yes, you read right. Stress is one of the things that can make your gums bleed despite your best efforts to maintain good oral care practices. Increased levels of stress can cause inflammation which may then explain why your gums are more likely to bleed. Also, stress can be a major contributor in weakening your immune system, thus allowing your body to be more prone to infection and delayed healing.
Smoking
Toxins from cigarette can obstruct the absorption of nutrition that your gums need, which usually causes infection or inflammation of the gums. It may also encourage growth of bacteria inside the mouth which in turn will make the gums prone to infection, inflammation and bleeding.