Why you shouldn’t ignore bleeding gums

A leading dentist has warned that too many people are complacent about bleeding gums. Dr Deepa Chopra, who has over 20 year’s expertise in oral health, said that they could be a cause for concern when brushing or flossing.

She said that bleeding is to sometimes be expected in sensitive areas that haven’t been recently flossed. However, in some situations, it could be the body’s way of letting you know something isn’t right. Bleeding could be the product of inflammation, which occurs when plaque builds up on the gum line. If the plaque isn’t treated, it could lead to gingivitis or more serious periodontal gum disease, resulting in bone or even tooth loss.

However, there may be other explanations for oral bleeding. It is sometimes attributed to brushing technique, in which case a softer toothbrush and less robust circle motion may be necessary. Excessive brushing might seem like a logically thorough approach but instead could have a counterproductive effect in damaging enamel over time.

In other situations, there may be issues related to medication, vitamin deficiencies, pregnancy or hormonal changes. To understand the symptoms and causes, it is, therefore, important to arrange dental check-ups, while routine oral health maintenance should be performed, including flossing and fluoride toothpaste.

Failure to attend bleeding may lead to further bacteria entering the bloodstream. This is why gum disease should be treated early, in order to prevent later complications and the costs associated with this.

If you experience mouth bleeding and it is causing concern, book an appointment with our team of advanced care specialists at Art of Dental Care today. We are leading providers of root canal treatment in Chester and North Wales, among other services.