Seeing blood while brushing or flossing your teeth can raise concerns. The good news is that infrequent bleeding gums are typically standard and harmless. However, if you notice that your gums bleed nearly every time you brush or floss them, this may be a sign of gum disease.
In this blog, we’ll look at the following:
- Is hydrogen peroxide good for bleeding gums?
- What illnesses cause bleeding gums?
- What mouthwash is good for bleeding gums?
- What is the best medicated toothpaste for bleeding gums?
- What should a person with bleeding gums take daily?
- How do you treat bleeding gums at home?
- Frequently asked questions for bleeding gums
Is Hydrogen Peroxide Good for Bleeding Gums?
Yes, rinsing with hydrogen peroxide helps remove plaque that can contribute to gum bleeding. When you use hydrogen peroxide, swish the solution in your mouth after brushing and avoid swallowing any of it.
What Illnesses Cause Bleeding Gums?
In some cases, bleeding gums can be expected — maybe you brushed too hard or nicked your gums while flossing. Similarly, neglecting your oral hygiene, like forgetting to brush your teeth twice daily, can lead to gum bleeding. In other instances, bleeding gums allude to a more severe condition that requires treatment from a dentist or oral health professional.
- Gingivitis. Often, bleeding gums is a symptom of gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. This condition requires treatment from a dentist, though you might be able to alleviate early gingivitis symptoms with better oral hygiene practices.
- Periodontal disease. If you avoid seeking treatment for gingivitis, you can develop periodontitis, an advanced form of gum disease that might require a more invasive treatment to correct.
- Rare underlying conditions. If you have a blood disorder, vitamin K or C deficiency, a hormonal imbalance, leukemia, or another health condition, a symptom might be bleeding gums. If you experience frequent bleeding gums when cleaning your teeth, speak with your dentist.
| Stage of Gum Disease | Population of Americans Affected |
|---|---|
| Gingivitis (Mild gum disease) | 75% |
| Periodontal Disease (Severe gum disease) | 9% |
Other Causes of Bleeding Gums
- Smoking. Using tobacco products generally increases your risk of adverse oral health effects. If you smoke tobacco, it’s essential to realize the correlation between smoking and poor gum health.
- Plaque. When you put off brushing your teeth, plaque builds up from bacteria on the surface of your teeth uninterrupted. This buildup of plaque leads to bleeding gums when you brush and floss your teeth.
- Rough flossing or brushing. Being too harsh when cleaning your teeth can lead to irritation, causing bleeding gums. Try being gentle to prevent bleeding gums — brushing in delicate circles is effective. If you use a hard-bristle toothbrush, switch to a soft-bristle.
- Pregnancy. The hormonal changes you experience when pregnant can make your teeth and gums more sensitive. As a result, you might develop pregnancy gingivitis. Follow all of your dentist’s advice on how to treat bleeding gums in pregnancy.
- Medications. Certain medications, such as blood thinners, can make you more susceptible to bleeding gums. List your current medications on your health history report when you see your dentist so they can work with you to make the right decisions for your oral health.
- Stress. Severe ongoing stress can increase your body’s inflammation, including inflammation of the gums. Although another cause might be mainly responsible for bleeding gums, stress can worsen oral health.
What Mouthwash is Good for Bleeding Gums?
Chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash with a 0.2 percent concentration is considered one of the best to treat and stop bleeding gums.
The National Institutes of Health shares that “CHX mouthwash with concentrations between 0.1% and 0.2% exhibits significant anti-inflammatory and antiplaque effects on the gingiva and teeth. Rinsing daily with a 0.2% CHX mouthwash for 4 to 6 weeks also resulted in reduced clinical signs of gingivitis in several studies.”
There are several brands to choose from for chlorhexidine mouthwash, including Colgate Peroxyl Antiseptic Mouth Sore Rinse, Listerine Gum Therapy Antiseptic Mouthwash, and Parodontax Active Gum Health Mouthwash.
What is the Best Medicated Toothpaste for Bleeding Gums?
Just like mouthwash, you can choose from various solid medicated toothpaste to aid in treating bleeding gums. Parodontax clean mint toothpaste is a popular choice using the effective, active ingredient stannous fluoride.
What Should a Person with Bleeding Gums Take Daily?
Adding vitamin K supplements to your daily oral hygiene routine can alleviate bleeding gums. Vitamin K aids in the creation of various proteins needed for blood clotting and bone building.
Bleeding gums are among the signs of a deficiency of vitamin K. Other signs of a deficiency include easy bruising, heavy and painful menstruation in women, and blood in urine or stool. Contact your primary healthcare provider for professional advice if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.
How to Treat Bleeding Gums at Home
If you have bleeding gums, see your dentist for medical advice. As you wait for your appointment, you can try the following ways to alleviate your bleeding gums at home:
BRUSH MORE OFTEN
If you’ve fallen into a routine of not brushing your teeth, do your best to be consistent again. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to brush in a circular motion gently. Do so twice daily — once in the morning and once at night — to help keep your gums healthy and clean.
PURCHASE THE RIGHT TOOTHPASTE
Strengthen the gum tissue around your teeth with toothpaste formulated to prevent gum disease. A detoxifying toothpaste for treating gingivitis can neutralize plaque and protect your gums from infection. If your gums are sensitive, you can use toothpaste for sensitivity and treating gum disease.
REMEMBER TO REPLACE YOUR TOOTHBRUSH
Replace your toothbrush at least every three months. If you keep the same toothbrush for longer than that, bacteria will build up on the surface of the bristles. The bristles of a toothbrush also become less effective the more you use it.
USE DENTAL FLOSS
Floss is vital for dental hygiene because it removes food particles between teeth. Excess food particles can sit on the teeth for months, eventually forming plaque. To prevent that, flossing removes the particles that seep below the gum line and cause bleeding.
REDUCE STRESS LEVELS
Unfortunately, stress can have consequences on your oral health. If you experience frequent stress, consider adding healthy stress-relieving activities like meditation to your routine. Lowering your stress levels with a few routine changes will also help you feel more open to improving your dental hygiene routine.
EAT A BALANCED DIET
Because teeth require vitamins and minerals to stay strong, you’re more susceptible to oral health problems when you eat a poor diet. Eating consistent nutritious meals throughout the day will help improve your overall health, including your oral health. Here are a few ways you can improve your diet for healthier gums:
- Eat fruits and vegetables with each meal.
- Limit your intake of processed foods, which usually have a high salt content and low nutritional value.
- Eat fewer foods with sugars and high fructose corn syrup. The bacteria in your mouth feed on sugary foods, which is why sweets are some of the worst foods you can eat for your dental health.
- Eat more foods with calcium and vitamin D to help keep your bones and teeth strong.
TRY ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS
Try using additional products to improve your routine or combine products for more effective treatment. These items can supplement your current dental hygiene routine:
- Mouthwash. Use a rinse formulated for gum care to treat your bleeding gums.
- Electric toothbrushes. This type of toothbrush is easier to use for many patients.
- Dental picks. This tool will help you clean the spaces between your teeth instead of using string floss.
Frequently Asked Questions for Bleeding Gums
Generally, bleeding every time you floss is a bad sign. If you fix the gaps in your oral hygiene, such as flossing correctly, and still notice bleeding gums, schedule an appointment with your dentist. Although bleeding gums could be a sign of gum disease in its early stages, it might indicate a more serious issue.
If you notice the following symptoms, contact your dentist:
Pain. If you feel pain in the areas between your gums where you floss, you might have gingivitis or its more severe form, periodontitis.
Swelling and redness. These symptoms could be a sign of gum disease.
Fever. A lasting fever that worsens suddenly could indicate you have an infection.
Neglecting to treat bleeding gums and the issues that cause them can lead to health complications, some of which are irreversible. Therefore, you must contact your dentist when you notice frequent bleeding gums. A few complications of bleeding gums include:
– Advanced gum disease
– Infection
– Tooth loss
– Undiagnosed cancer allowed to progress
If you use tobacco, you should be careful with your consumption — tobacco has many adverse effects on the teeth and gums. Specifically, smoking cigarettes or using other tobacco products can increase your risk of developing gum disease. If your gums are sensitive and bleeding and you use tobacco, try to quit or use tobacco in smaller increments.
One of the most important things you can do to maintain oral health is to see your dentist regularly for exams and cleanings.
Do your best to schedule a dentist appointment twice yearly to prioritize your oral hygiene. These visits allow your dentist to properly clean your teeth and catch any health issues that might be occurring.
See your doctor outside your general cleanings if you have urgent symptoms, like noticing bleeding gums or pain every time you brush or floss your teeth.
Published On: March 17, 2023
Updated On: September 12, 2023