Got Bleeding Gums? Our Didsbury Dental Practice tells you all you need to know

15 October 2018

Got Bleeding Gums? Our Didsbury Dental Practice tells you all you need to know

At our Didsbury Dental practice, we’re a private dentist in Manchester that often treats patients suffering from bleeding gums.  Did you know that healthy gums should never bleed when you brush and floss your teeth? So, if yours do, (and we’re guessing that could be the case if you’re reading this blog) then we recommend that you visit your Cheadle dental practice for advice as soon as you can.

Should I be worried about bleeding gums?

Well yes …. a little bit. You see, gums won’t just stop bleeding of their own accord and heal themselves, but thankfully there’s every chance that we can discover what’s causing your gums to bleed and help rectify the problem.

This Cheadle dental practice blog explains why gums bleed, how common the condition is, the different stages of gum disease, and what you can do to prevent it.

The main reason that gums bleed is poor oral hygiene. No doubt you’ve heard your dentist talk about the importance of brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day to remove any plaque that accumulates on your teeth. When you’re not doing this, or if your brushing technique is letting you down, bacteria can accumulate, particularly below the gumline, and infect the soft gum tissue which surrounds your teeth.

Symptoms of gum disease

If your gums are redder than normal, feel sore, or are swollen, and bleed when you brush your teeth or bite into hard foods like apples, then it’s likely that you have the early signs of gum disease, or what us Didsbury dental practice dentists call ‘gingivitis’.

At this first stage, no real harm is being done but if the bleeding is ignored then the condition can progress and may develop into Periodontitis which is a severe form of gum disease that can cause tooth loss. That’s the bad news…

The good news is that in the majority of cases a thorough clean of your teeth and gums by one of our hygienists will remove the hardened plaque that has caused gingivitis. Provided you maintain good oral hygiene from then on, bleeding gums should become a thing of the past.

Will just brushing at home stop my gums from bleeding?

Perhaps you’re wondering whether you can stop your gums from bleeding by simply raising your game and brushing your teeth more regularly at home? Is it just a case of removing any plaque with a toothbrush and dental floss? In most cases plaque that is difficult to reach or that has hardened cannot be removed purely with a toothbrush and will need a professional clean from your private dentist in Manchester.

Besides, there are other reasons for visiting your dentist if you have bleeding gums. It’s extremely common for most people to have a mild form of gum disease at some point in their lives but because often there are no painful symptoms, it’s sometimes allowed to continue untreated. If left it can spiral out of control.

In fact, were you aware that periodontal disease is the number one cause for tooth loss?

This is why we recommend regular 6 monthly check-ups at our Didsbury dental practice so that any mild gum disease can be spotted and treated right away by our hygienists. It’s a standard practice for them and most times patients find their gums stop bleeding after treatment and any other issues connected with gum disease, such as bad breath,  will disappear too. The bottom line is…If left untreated, your gingivitis will probably develop into periodontitis.

So, what’s the deal with periodontitis? Why is it so serious?

Periodontitis is a serious gum infection that damages the soft gum tissue and causes the bone which supports your teeth to erode. This means your teeth will lose their stability and may eventually fall out.

What’s more, periodontal disease has also been linked with other medical conditions including heart attacks, strokes, and lung disease. Studies have also revealed that a high percentage of people with periodontitis are at greater risk of developing diabetes.

This is why it’s important to visit your Cheadle dental practice if your gums are bleeding so we can assess the situation. We’ll carry out a thorough oral exam and hopefully rule out periodontitis. Either way, early diagnosis is key to a successful outcome.

To remove all of the plaque from both the surfaces of your teeth and the tooth roots usually requires a few dental appointments. A follow-up appointment will be scheduled to check that the gum inflammation has lessened and that all of the plaque has, indeed, been removed.

How to avoid a recurrence after treatment

Naturally improved oral hygiene is the first step and you’ll be shown by your Didsbury dental practice hygienist how to brush your teeth effectively.

Other factors also play a part. For instance, your diet can make you more susceptible to gum disease so it’s important to cut down on sugary foods and drinks and to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables in order to maintain healthy teeth and gums Stress and smoking also have a negative impact on dental health. In other words, a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle are as important for your dental health as they are your overall health.

Everyone’s human, yes even us dentists! Which is why it’s not uncommon for people to sometimes lapse and neglect their oral hygiene. This is another reason for us recommending regular dental checks, either 3 or 6 monthly depending on your dental history.

So, to get back to the question of “Will my gums stop bleeding on their own?” The answer is probably not without having your dentist/hygienist give your teeth a thorough clean to remove the build-up of plaque.

To stop your gums bleeding we recommend that you book an appointment with your private dentist in Manchester. That way, you can be reassured that all of your dental issues have been dealt with and your bleeding gums are well and truly a thing of the past.

If you’re suffering from bleeding gums then don’t delay. Call our Cheadle dental practice on 0161 486 0743 today and get your oral health back on track.