Dr Mandeep Kaur
Gum bleeding is a common oral health problem. If your gums bleed while brushing or flossing, you can ignore it thinking it’s normal, but sometimes it can indicate an underlying problem. Occasional bleeding from the gums can be caused by brushing your teeth too hard, usin g stiff, frayed or worn-out toothbrush, using dental floss roughly or wearing dentures that don’t fit well. Frequent bleeding from the gums can also show more serious conditions.
Causes
Gingivitis: Bleeding gums are a sign of inflammation gums. It’s a common and mild form of gum disease caused by accumulation of plaque at your gumline. Your gums may be irritated, red and swollen and may bleed when you brush your teeth.
Periodontitis: If you don’t care of your gingivitis it can lead to periodontitis, a long term gum infection that damages the tissue and bone that support your teeth. Your gums may become inflammed, red swollen, tender and infected and tend to bleed easily. Teeth may get loose and you may experience bad taste and bad breath.
Diabetes: Bleeding or swollen gums may be a sign of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. High blood sugar due to diabetes makes saliva around your teeth and gums more sugary. This helps harmful germs and plaque grow which irritate your gums and they bleed, look red and swell. In diabetes your mouth is not as powerful at fighting germs and makes it harder for your body to heal.
Leukemia : Bleeding gums can be a sign of leukemia, a type of blood cancer. The blood’s ability to clot depends on healthy blood platelets. In leukemia your platelet count is low which makes it harder to stop bleeding in different parts of the body including gums.
Thrombocytopenia: If your gums bleed on brushing and it does not stop on its own, your gums may be irritated or you may have thrombocytopenia. In this condition your body may not have enough platelets to form a blood clot.
Hemophilia or Von Willebrand disease: Gum bleeding in absence of trauma or injury or heavy bleeding when you get a small cut or have dental work may be due to this bleeding disorder. Your blood doesn’t clot properly so you may have gums bleeding.
Scurvy: Severe lack of Vitamin C can lead to scurvy, a disease related to poor nutrition. Its deficiency can lead to weakness, anemia, spontaneous bleeding and ulceration of gums and even loss of teeth.
Deficiency of Vitamin K: Vitamin K helps your blood to clot properly. It is also good for bones. Its lack in diet can lead to bleeding gums. Malabsorption of Vitamin B12 can increase your risk of periodontitis.
Pregnancy: Hormonal changes during pregnancy can make your gums more vulnerable to plaque, leading to inflammation and bleeding. This is also called pregnancy gingivitis.
Medications: Prolonged use of certain medications like aspirin or blood thinners may also cause bleeding of gums. Always inform your dentists about the medications before going for any procedure.
Infection: HIV infection, Herpes simplex viral infection can cause bleeding gums and soreness in the oral cavity including tongue, lips or mouth. However this cause can be confirmed only by serologic testing.
Stress – induced bleeding gums: Stress may result in gum inflammation making them more susceptible to trauma. Stress also induces an immunocompromised state, encouraging bacterial infection and inhibiting normal coagulation processes.
The best way to prevent gum bleeding is to adopt a healthy lifestyle that prevents diseases that cause gum bleeding. Gum bleeding and other gum complications can also be stopped and minimized by:
* Practice good oral health care, including brushing twice a day and flossing once a day
* Visit the dentist regularly
* See a doctor regularly to check for health problems that may contribute to gum problems, such as diabetes, Leukemia
* Avoid smoking
* Eat a healthy diet that includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and limit processed foods and foods with added sugars
* Rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide
* Increase your Vitamin C & K intake
* Rinse your mouth with salt water
* Use of cold compress or ice pack
(The author is Assistant Professor Indira Gandhi Govt Dental College, Jammu)
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