Do you notice your gums slightly bleed every time you brush?
While it may seem normal and you’re already in the stage of denial that says you don’t need dental care. The truth is maybe, you do.
It is estimated that 75% of population have some form of gum disease , most common being gingivitis. The primary reason is due to accumulation of food debris they say, but we would reframe it as ‘NEGLECTING THE EARLY SIGNS’ like bleeding gums.
NOW THE QUESTION IS WHY DOES YOUR GUM BLEED ? Understanding why your gums bleed is really important and this blog would help you to gain a better perspective in understanding simple facts that would help you to maintain and improve.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BLEEDING GUMS.
Bleeding gums can be an early warning sign of gum disease. In its earliest stages, this malady is called gingivitis, and it’s quite common. About 10 to 15 percent of people with gingivitis go on to develop a more serious form of gum disease, called periodontitis.
Two common types of periodontitis.
Chronic periodontitis is the most common type, affecting mostly adults, though children can be affected, too. This type is caused by plaque buildup and involves slow deterioration that may improve and get worse over time but causes destruction in the gums and bone and loss of teeth if not treated.
Aggressive periodontitis usually begins in childhood or early adulthood and affects only a small number of people. It tends to affect families and causes rapid progression of bone and tooth loss if untreated
One of the methods by which we diagnose the presence is by taking a full mouth radiograph that would indicate the bone level present under your gums. A healthy mouth would show normal bone levels with no signs of any disease as indicative of the image on the left side.
However the gum disease affects the bone and causes gradual but progressive horizontal bone loss that would create a space between the gum and root. This space is referred to as a “Pocket” which aids the disease by causing food accumulation under the gums.
This food which gets stuck between the teeth and under the gums forms an ideal environment for the disease to progress further. Hence if you suffer from food getting stuck after every meal,it is indicative of Gum disease
HEALTHY STATEPERIODONTITIS
Despite of the mentioned causes some people tend to have bleeding gums and why is that?
There are two common reasons that this may occur.
Nutrient deficiency: Many people don’t have a proper balanced diet and miss out on vital nutrients which affects the oral tissues. Researches has suggested that there are two vitamins that, if deficient, could lead to frequent gum-bleeding: vitamin C and vitamin K. If you’re seeing your dentist twice a year and you’re brushing and flossing every day, and there are no other indications of gum disease, you may increase your intake of leafy greens and fresh citrus fruits to give your vitamin C and K levels a boost.
Hormone changes: In particular, women who are pregnant have a greater risk for bleeding gums especially during their second and third trimester . This doesn’t mean their gums are infected but that they may be due to rise of certain hormones. It subsequently recovers spontaneously and after delivery the gingival health status is similar to that in non-pregnant women without any apparent progress to periodontitis within a three-month period.
PREVENTION OF GUM DISEASES
THE RIGHT BRUSHING TECHNIQUE:Don’t be one of those aggressive brushers waging war on your gums. Improper brushing habits can lead to inflamed gums causing bleeding. Know the right technique and brush teeth twice/day especially brushing before going to bed in the night is highly advisable to prevent most of the dental related problems. The following points are to be noted to appreciate the right brushing technique
Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.
Gently move the brush back and forth in short (tooth-wide) strokes.
Brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes.
Brushing time : 3-5minutes.
MEETING YOUR DENTIST ANNUALLY:If you probably have friends or relatives abroad you’d realize they have a habit of meticulously meeting the dentist once a year. This practice is based on sound scientific research that prove that an annual scaling/cleaning reduces bacterial load in one’s mouth. This combined with proper brushing technique as mentioned above and proper diet habits will keep your gums healthy.
EATING THE RIGHT FOOD:Onions have been proven to be a fantastic food for healthy gums because they neutralize oral bacteria. They have microbial properties that target the most common types of bacteria that cause gum disease.Vitamin C is also high in vegetables like peppers of all colours and acidic fruits such as oranges, kiwis, pineapple, and strawberries. Add them into your diet to reap the benefits of this anti-inflammatory vitamin through smoothies, with yogurt, and in salads.Vegetables like spinach are filled to the brim with healthy vitamins and minerals. Specifically, they hold vitamin C, which boosts the production of red blood cells and reduces inflammationDairy products are great for teeth because they are high in calcium, a mineral that helps to strengthen bone, but they are also great for your gums. This is because of a protein called casein that is found in most dairy products which helps to neutralize oral acids that are produced by bacteria in the mouth.
It’s never normal to have bleeding gums. They can be an early warning sign of gum disease.
On behalf of Team RCF we hope this blog gives you a better perspective on managing your oral health and gums!
