Do your gums bleed while brushing and flossing? If so, what are you doing to help alleviate this problem? The truth is…most people don’t even see bleeding gums as a problem. As dental professionals, we are concerned that this is sometimes considered normal.
Why It Matters
If you woke up and blood was spewing from your eye, would you consider this normal? Probably not. In fact, you would likely seek immediate medical attention. You wouldn’t want to risk the condition getting worse and causing damage to this very important part of the body.
We need to view bleeding gums in the same manner. They are a sign of a problem that, if left untreated, will worsen. Gingivitis causes irreparable damage to gums, teeth, and bones.
The medical terminology for bleeding gums is gingivitis. Gingivitis is a common and mild form of gum disease (periodontal disease.) It causes irritation, redness and swelling (inflammation) of your gingiva, the part of the gum around the tooth base. It’s important to take gingivitis seriously and treat it promptly. Gingivitis will lead to much more serious gum disease called periodontitis. Untreated periodontitis leads to eventual tooth loss.
Why Are They Bleeding?
The most common cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene. Many patients have never been shown effective oral hygiene techniques. At our office, we take the time to show patients the most effective methods for excellent plaque removal. It is also important to have the oral biofilm manually removed by a licensed dental professional at least twice a year.
At Dr. Anders and Armistead’s dental office, we love educating our patients! Come visit our talented team of hygienists for your routine care! Please contact https://www.andersdds.com/contact for more information on how you can stop this disease.