Bleeding Gums

The problem relating to bleeding gums still continues to plague us even with so many modern facilities available in the field of oral care. Bleeding gums are an indication of slowly progressing disease of the gums. If not taken proper care, it may further affect the bone supporting the tooth and ultimately would result in loss of tooth or teeth.

Progression of Bleeding Gums

· Gums begin to darken from light pink to red.

· Bleeding after or during rushing.

· Bleeding occurs on its own, not just when brushing.

· Gums begin to recede and bleed more frequently.

· Gums recede to severe levels.

· Bleeding occurs more regularly, and there is more blood.

Symptoms of Bleeding Gums

· Bleeding on slightest injury or even touch.

· Red, tender or swollen gums.

· Blood with bloody taste in mouth.

· Sometimes, due to bleeding gums, pus can be squeezed from the gums.

· Bad breath.

· Recession of gums from the teeth.

· Sensitive teeth.

· Loose and shaky teeth.

· Difficulty and discomfort in mastication and food intake occasionally due to pain and sensitiveness.

The Causes

a) Poor maintenance of teeth, such as inadequate brushing or failure to rinse the mouth after meals results in a thin layer of food and bacteria covering the tooth surface. These bacteria are the chief culprit behind the inflammation. The gums during the stage of infection become soft, spongy and swollen. Trauma to the gums caused by hard brushing or tooth picking with sharp objects result in gingival bleeding.

b) Bleeding can also be due to injury of the gums by any shaft food item e.g. fish bone.

c) Hot food and certain chemicals can end up burning the gums, further resulting in bleeding. For example, some people still follow the practice of placing pain relieving tablets on the gum adjacent to the painful tooth, which invariably caused burns.

d) Certain rapidly spreading infections can damge the blood vessels of the gums resulting in bleeding.

e) Deficiency of Vitamin K and C causes problems with the blood vessels. This has the effect of causing bleeding in the gums. Ancient sailors were known to suffer from this problem until someone came up with the bright idea of stocking the ships with oranges during travel, as oranges is a rich source of Vitamin C.

f) Certain general illnesses of the body can also precipitate gingival bleeding. They are:

· Allergic reaction.

· Increase in the number of cells called platelets. These are cells, which join together to form a place that blocks the bleeding from an injured vessel.

· Failure in blood clotting mechanism due to deficiency of a few important components.

· Cancerous condition called leukaemia.

· Certain drugs such as aspirin and anti-coagulants, which prevent the normal clotting mechanism of the blood.

g) Certain medications could also cause bleeding gums, because continous usage of blood thinners, such as Aspirin and anti-coagulants which prevent the normal clotting mechanism of the blood. Pain-killers and treatment procedures like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, can also cause bleeding from gums.

h) Pregnancy and hormonal changes can also cause gums to bleed occasionally, as well as poor oral hygiene, due to infection and weakness.

i) Systemic disorders such as liver disorders, kidney disorders, arterial or capillary diseases, diabetes, or heart disorder can also reflect as bleeding gums.