How to Get My Gums to Stop Bleeding
While it’s not uncommon for a person’s gums to bleed when they brush or floss their teeth, it’s not something that should be ignored. In some cases, bleeding gums might be easily prevented with simple behavior changes, but in other cases, dental treatment is necessary. The only way to know for sure why your gums are bleeding is to see your dentist regularly, and the best way to stop your gums from bleeding is to adhere to your dentist’s, and your doctor’s, recommendations. The causes for bleeding gums can range from simple, mechanical causes like excessive friction from improper brushing, to more complex medical concerns like gum disease, with a variety of contributing factors in between, and only a dentist can diagnose these factors. The solution to bleeding gums will depend, in large part, on the cause, but there are some solid guidelines that can reduce the likelihood of bleeding gums and nip the problem in the bud when it does arise.
The first step toward preventing bleeding gums is to adopt solid, effective oral hygiene habits. When the gums become inflamed, due to the accumulation of excess plaque near the gum line, they are more likely to bleed. Brushing and flossing helps reduce this excess plaque and can prevent bleeding gums, though proper brushing and flossing techniques are necessary; in fact, improper brushing and flossing can also make bleeding gums worse. Your dental hygienist can help you learn how to gently yet effectively brush and floss, using gentle techniques that reduce destructive friction while thoroughly cleaning plaque and bacteria from the oral cavity. Because dramatic hormone fluctuations can increase inflammation in the gums, these effective techniques are particularly important for adolescents and pregnant people.
Rinsing the mouth with hydrogen peroxide or a warm saltwater solution can help stop the gums from bleeding, and drinking green tea has also been shown to reduce bacteria buildup in the oral cavity and slow the progression of gum disease. If your bleeding gums are caused by trauma or injury, applying a cold compress to the outside of the face in 20-minute increments can reduce bleeding and swelling. If your gums continue to bleed for a week, or if bleeding recurs consistently, however, see your dentist for more comprehensive treatment. You may require a periodontal deep cleaning to stop future bleeding and restore the gums to health.
Certain lifestyle changes, like avoiding smoking, reducing stress, and eating a balanced diet can also help you get your gums to stop bleeding while also improving your overall health. In addition to the systemic issues caused by smoking, like lung cancer and heart disease, smoking weakens the body’s immune system and increases the likelihood of gum disease. Elevated stress has a similar effect on the body’s defenses and might also cause a person to abandon their oral hygiene habits, compounding the damaging effects stress has on the body. Balanced diets that are low in sugars and refined carbohydrates and rich in diverse nutrients and vitamins, particularly vitamins C and K, help reduce the amount of plaque that builds up on the teeth while keeping the body’s tissues and immune system strong and vital, providing holistic health benefits that extend far beyond the oral cavity.