Bleeding gums in children and adults is a fairly common phenomenon. Someone will say that this is a small thing - bleeding from the gums. But this is not true; bleeding may be a sign of a serious oral disease or infectious pathology. If this is not the first time you have seen blood when brushing your or your child’s teeth, you should contact your dentist.
By the way, many girls and women’s gums begin to bleed during pregnancy. The main reason, as a rule, is hormonal changes in the body. 2-3 months after giving birth, the situation will change for the better, you will no longer feel the unpleasant taste of blood in your mouth.
What is bleeding gums?
If, when brushing your teeth, the paste on the brush becomes pinkish, this may indicate bleeding gums. According to the frequency of manifestation, it can be situational or chronic. In the first case, blood on the mucous membrane appears as a result of mechanical damage and usually does not cause alarm. If the gums bleed regularly, there is a high probability of infection and inflammation of the soft tissue.
Statistics show that almost all people aged 30 years and older experience inflammatory processes in the periodontal area. The reason lies in the imbalance of microorganisms, which occurs against the background of poor ecology, poor hygiene, poor nutrition and bad habits. Under the influence of external factors, the immune defense of the mucous membrane deteriorates, which contributes to the development of dental diseases.
If a person experiences bleeding when brushing his teeth, doctors recommend not leaving the pathology unattended. The problem is not only often accompanied by discomfort and bad breath, but if left untreated, it leads to many complications, including tooth loss.
Mistakes in self-medication
When trying to get rid of bleeding gums on their own, patients make a number of mistakes. Never worth it:
- start taking antibiotics without a prescription - they may not be needed, but the blow to the body will be dealt;
- Stop brushing your teeth - this will only lead to a worsening of the condition;
- getting too carried away with oral hygiene - this will not save you from complications and will not cure, but will only aggravate the situation due to systematic injury to soft tissues;
- be afraid to go to the dentist - modern treatment methods are painless and do not cause discomfort, unlike purulent complications.
Lack of timely and competent treatment of bleeding gums leads to the spread of inflammation to bone formations. As a result, teeth become loose and fall out, requiring implants to be inserted. This is much more expensive than contacting a specialist in time to solve a gum problem.
You should not let the disease progress and self-medicate; come to the Matisse Dent clinic and receive competent medical care.
Main symptoms
The main sign of pathology is the appearance of blood while eating or brushing teeth. When gums become inflamed, they become more vulnerable to injury, their capillaries become highly permeable, and the tissue becomes thinner, so bleeding occurs much more easily. Additional symptoms depend on the specific disease. Most often, bleeding is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- unpleasant odor;
- swelling of the mucous membrane;
- the appearance of a metallic taste;
- redness of the gums, formation of white plaque;
- exposure of the neck of the tooth;
- discomfort when brushing teeth or pressing on the gums;
- uneven height of the gingival margin.
If these signs appear, it is advisable to immediately consult a doctor. It is much easier to treat bleeding gums at an early stage than in an advanced form.
Classification of gingivitis according to ICD:
- K05.0. Acute gingivitis
- K05.00 Acute streptococcal gingivostomatitis
- K05.08 Other specified acute gingivitis
- K05.09 Acute unspecified gingivitis
- K05.1. Chronic gingivitis
- K05.10 Simple marginal gingivitis
- K05.19 Chronic unspecified gingivitis
- K06.0. Gum recession.
- K06.1. Gingival hypertrophy.
- K06.2. Lesions of the gums and edentulous alveolar margin caused by trauma.
- K06.9. Changes in the gingiva and edentulous alveolar margin, unspecified.
Reasons for appearance
First of all, the doctor makes a diagnosis and finds out the reasons that led to the bleeding. Let's look at what diseases can cause blood on the gums.
Gingivitis
With gingivitis, inflammation of the gum mucosa develops. The cause of the disease is the accumulation of soft plaque near the gingival margin, which is associated with poor hygiene. Bacteria contribute to the development of the inflammatory process and the appearance of bleeding, which increases when brushing your teeth. Blood on the mucous membrane may be accompanied by symptoms:
- redness or bluishness of soft tissues;
- swelling;
- swelling of the gingival papillae;
- itching, pain.
If the disease is not treated in a timely manner, it can transform into a destructive form of periodontal pathology – periodontitis.
Periodontitis
With this disease, periodontal tissue becomes inflamed. During the course of the disease, the structure of the alveolar part of the jaw is destroyed, which threatens the loss of teeth. Initially, the disease manifests itself by bleeding, the formation of plaque and viscous saliva. Over time, teeth become mobile and begin to loosen. In the acute form of periodontitis, the patient complains of pain and purulent discharge from the periodontal pockets. Sometimes fistulas may form and submandibular lymph nodes may enlarge.
Stomatitis
With stomatitis, inflammation of the mucous membrane occurs, caused by the body's reaction to allergens and irritants. The disease can also develop due to poor hygiene and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. A person’s mucous membranes become swollen, hyperemic, and covered with a yellow or white coating. A common symptom of the disease is bleeding gums, which is accompanied by increased salivation and an unpleasant odor.
Tartar
Tartar is hardened particles of food and soft plaque resulting from the activity of bacteria. When it forms, the gums are injured, which contributes to the appearance of blood. Stones can be supragingival or subgingival. Any of these types can cause pathology and lead to the development of more serious diseases.
Avitaminosis
In some cases, bleeding indicates that the body lacks minerals and vitamins. Typically, the appearance of blood on the gums is associated with a deficiency of the following elements:
- Tocopherol – when there is a lack of it, excessive lipid oxidation occurs, which contributes to cell damage and the development of inflammation. Periodontal dystrophy may indicate a lack of vitamin E.
- Ascorbic acid – vitamin C deficiency leads to deterioration of vascular permeability and decreased elasticity of vascular walls. The gums become loose and prone to inflammation.
- Phylloquinone - its main task is to improve the processes of prothrombin synthesis. With vitamin K deficiency, blood may appear both after an injury and spontaneously.
Blood diseases
Mucous membranes may bleed due to pathologies of the hematopoietic system, such as coagulopathy or anemia. Against the background of a low platelet level, bleeding occurs both immediately after mechanical damage to the gums, and for no apparent reason. Many people are afraid to visit the dentist and get rid of symptomatic manifestations by regular teeth cleaning. As a result, bacteria begin to multiply more intensively, which entails additional problems - the development of caries or periodontitis.
Diabetes
It has long been noted that bleeding from the gums is a common phenomenon in people with diabetes. Against the background of the disease, there is a deficiency of saliva, a bacterial imbalance in the oral cavity, and a deterioration of immunity, which together leads to the appearance of blood on the gums and the development of periodontitis.
Sometimes the causes of pathology are more banal. So, it can be caused by an incorrectly selected toothbrush with too hard bristles. In pregnant women, the appearance of blood on the mucous membrane is associated with changes in the body and hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy.
We know how to treat bleeding gums
Gums bleed in pregnant women
While carrying a child, a woman’s body undergoes restructuring: special hormones begin to be produced, and the body changes. This also applies to the oral cavity. Every second pregnant woman is diagnosed with hypertrophic gingivitis. It is manifested by an increase in gingival papillae and the appearance of bleeding.
The cause of this condition in a pregnant woman can also be the accumulation of bacteria due to an increase in the depth of the gum pockets. Bacteria accumulate in them, causing inflammation. Proper brushing helps to avoid the development of bleeding gums. It is better to use an irrigator and mouth rinses for this.
How and with what to treat pathology?
If you have an oral problem, you should contact your dentist. Before prescribing treatment, the doctor will conduct an examination and understand the causes of bleeding. Diagnosis may include laboratory tests or instrumental examinations. If necessary, the patient is referred for consultation to specialists.
Treatment of pathology is carried out in a complex and depends on the specific disease. For tartar, gingivitis or periodontitis, teeth are ultrasonic cleaned and gum ointments and medicated toothpastes are prescribed. If the disease is accompanied by an inflammatory process, antibacterial drugs are prescribed.
Vitamin deficiency is treated with vitamin complexes based on the results of a laboratory examination. If there is a lack of vitamins associated with impaired absorption in the intestines, oral administration may not give the desired effect, so problems with the gastrointestinal tract are first eliminated. If the gums bleed due to leukemia and other pathologies of the circulatory system, medications are prescribed that prevent platelet aggregation.
Which doctor will help if my gums are bleeding?
If you have bleeding gums, you should consult a dentist. In the absence of complications, the doctor’s specialization does not play a role.
If the condition is complicated by the appearance of a lump with pus, you should immediately go to a dental surgeon. He will determine the type of tumor, choose treatment tactics and, if necessary, perform urgent surgery. At the Matisse Dent clinic, you don’t need to make an appointment several weeks in advance, endure pain and wait for help. With an acute condition, doctors will accept and perform surgery on the day of treatment.
Medicines
The choice of medications is determined based on the type and stage of the disease. Miramistin, chlorhexidine, furatsilin can be used for rinsing the mouth. In the presence of inflammation, you can use ointments that have anti-inflammatory and disinfectant effects. Infections are treated with the following:
- antibiotics;
- antiseptic drugs;
- antifungal agents;
- immunostimulants;
- vitamins.
Home treatments can be used as aids. Good results are shown by rinsing with herbal infusions of calendula, chamomile, and yarrow. To eliminate pain and strengthen soft tissues, use propolis tincture or a solution of soda and sea salt.
Prevention
An important condition for preventing gum bleeding is regular prevention. To avoid pathology, it is advisable to adhere to the following recommendations:
- To eliminate oral dysbacteriosis, special hygiene products should be used, such as brushes, dental floss, and therapeutic and prophylactic pastes.
- If you have bleeding gums, your toothbrush should have soft bristles. It should be selected together with the dentist.
- An important condition is regular hygiene. Teeth should be brushed at least twice a day, spending at least 2 minutes on the procedure.
- After each meal you should rinse your mouth with plain water.
- To slow down the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in the mouth, it is recommended to improve nutrition and reduce the amount of carbohydrates consumed in the diet.
- Do not forget about minerals and vitamins, which can be obtained both with food and as part of vitamin complexes.
- It is advisable to avoid those products that can injure the mucous membrane (crackers, caramel, seeds, etc.).
You should visit the dentist twice a year. Even if a person does not have visible problems with his teeth, a visit to the doctor is necessary for preventive cleaning, elimination of bacterial plaque and examination for hidden pathologies. With regular prevention and timely treatment of dental diseases, you can avoid bleeding gums and keep your teeth healthy for many years.
