What Are the Causes Of Bleeding Gums? Posted on 7/23/2020 by Sundberg Office Seeing blood when you spit is always a sign of concern because normally, healthy gums do not bleed. When you spit blood after brushing your teeth or even after flossing, you shouldn't let your imagination run wild. There are several reasons why you might be bleeding, some more serious than others. Here are some reasons why your gums are bleeding.
Gingivitis
Many dental professionals often define gingivitis as the first stage of oncoming gum diseases. In a nutshell, it happens when the plaque that's forming around the gums is not removed. This plaque, over time, finds ways to get under the gum. Once it has found a way, the bacteria in the plaque seeps into the gum, causing it to get infected. As such, the gums get inflamed, tender, and thereby bleed very easily. At this point, the disease can be caught in time, and the damage reversed, but it will take the intervention of professionals such as ourselves.
Aggressive Flossing and Brushing
Although teeth are formed of calcium and phosphorus like bones, they aren't indestructible. Some people get too carried away by the brushing and flossing so much so that they exert excess pressure on the teeth and gums during cleaning and flossing. If you also have a new flossing routine, you should give your gums a while to acclimate. You shouldn't be worried about the minor gum bleeding it seems to cause.
Medications
One more reason why your gums could be bleeding is if you are on blood-thinning medication. Blood-thinning medication significantly decreases the ability of blood to clot; meaning a small tear in your gum lining could cause significant bleeding. It's therefore important to always talk to us about any medication you are on so that we can better treat your dental problems. When your gums bleed for a while, or you notice that they are constantly bleeding after certain activities such as brushing teeth, please ensure that you schedule an appointment with us as soon as you can. This way, we can identify the root of the cause and sort it out before it becomes a big problem.