Your gums shouldn’t be bleeding regularly. There are times where your gums will bleed. A couple of times a month or so is pretty normal. Once it gets beyond that, though, you may have cause for concern.
Why Are My Gums Bleeding?
There are a variety of reasons your gums may be bleeding. Below are a few of the most common reasons for bleeding gums.
- Poor oral care. If you aren’t taking good care of your oral health, you may end up with bleeding gums. Plaque begins to build up on your teeth over time, which in turn leads to gingivitis. One of the symptoms of gingivitis is bleeding gums.
- Brushing and flossing too hard. Brushing and flossing every day, twice a day is extremely important to your oral health. With that being said, you shouldn’t brush or floss too hard. If you are too rough with your gums while brushing and flossing, you’ll aggravate them and cause them to bleed.
- Using the wrong type of toothbrush. Your gums may be particularly sensitive, and your toothbrush may have bristles that are too tough for your gums. Try switching your toothbrush to one with medium or soft bristles. This may alleviate the bleeding.
How Do I Care for My Bleeding Gums?
If your gums are bleeding, there are a few things that you can do to stop the issue. Below are some things you can try when you have bleeding gums:
- Take better care of your teeth and gums. In order to stop your gums from bleeding and to avoid them bleeding in the first place, you’ll need to take good care of your oral health. This means brushing, flossing and rinsing twice a day, every day. Remember, though, don’t brush or floss too hard! Just make sure you are doing it regularly.
- Cut bad food out. Certain kinds of food can lead to buildup of plaque on your gums. In turn, this leads to gingivitis and bleeding gums. Try cutting back on carbohydrates and sugar.
- Stop smoking. Smoking affects your immune system, which in turn can affect your gums. Quit smoking for the health of your gums and your health overall!
- Visit your dentist regularly. You should be seeing your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup. During this time, they can check for gingivitis and any other problems that may be causing your gums to bleed.
When Should I Be Concerned with Bleeding Gums?
If your gums bleed every once in a while, that shouldn’t be a cause for concern. Try the tips that were outlined above. If they continue to bleed, though, there may be an issue. Schedule an appointment with your dentist if your gums are bleeding more than a couple of times a month, and especially if they are bleeding regularly. They’ll be able to take a look at your teeth and gums and see what is causing your bleeding gums.