1 What does it mean when my gums bleed?
Bleeding gums are a sign of inflammation,
caused by a build-up of plaque at your gumline which contains millions of
harmful bacteria in it. It is in fact a sign of gingivitis, a mild form of gum
disease that require immediate attention, and if left untreated, it can lead to
a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis.
How do I know if I have gum disease?
If you have:
·
Bad breath that won’t go away
·
Red, swollen, tender and bleeding gums
·
Painful chewing
·
Loose teeth or teeth that are shifting away from
each other
·
Sensitive teeth
·
Receding gums or longer appearing teeth
·
Pus from the gums
3 Who are at risk of having gum diseases?
·
People with poor oral hygiene. Not removing plaque on a routine
basis will cause an immune response in the body that results in swelling and
bleeding.
·
Smokers. Nicotine in the cigarette impairs gingival blood flow. As
a result, fewer immune cells are available in the gingival tissue, which make
it harder to fight back the bacteria accumulating inside the plaque. Clinically,
smoking has been associated with increased pocket depths, calculus deposition,
bone loss and other oral complications.
·
Pregnant women. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can elevate
gum irritation and bleeding.
· The incidence of gum disease increases with age.
·
People with certain medical conditions. Diabetic patients for
example, are more likely to get infections for their immune system isn’t
powerful enough to fight back bacteria.
4 How can I get my gums to stop bleeding?
“You can save yourself a whole lot of problems:
pain, money, aggravation, by just doing simple preventive things. “
Here are some oral hygiene tips that will
help you keep your entire mouth healthier and help prevent or reduce gum
bleeding:
·
Brush with soft-bristle toothbrush twice a day for
at least 2 minutes. Change your toothbrush every 3 or 4 months.
·
Floss daily
·
Avoid tobacco
·
See a dentist regularly
·
Maintain a healthy lifestyle
5
I think I have a gum disease what should I do
now?
The main goal of treatment is to control
the infection. The number and types of treatment will vary, depending on the
extent of the gum disease.
1.
Deep cleaning (scaling and root planning)
This has two parts. Scaling is when your dentist removes all the plaque
and tartar above and below the gum line. Root planning is smoothing out tour
teeth roots to help remove bacteria that contribute to the disease. This
procedure may take more than one visit and sometimes require a local anaesthetic.
After care
After a deep cleaning, your gums or teeth may feel a bit different, the hygienist or dentist may need to prescribe a mouthwash or toothpaste to hep with the healing process.
2.
Surgical treatments such as flap surgery, bone
grafts and soft tissue grafts
You
will be advised to see a specialist when the tissue around the teeth is
unhealthy and cannot be repaired with nonsurgical procedure.
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