How to treat bleeding gums

How to Treat Bleeding Gums to Prevent Late-Stage Periodontitis

About half of all adults has some level of gum disease, or periodontitis. Common signs include bleeding gums when brushing or flossing, loose teeth, receding gums, or having your bite feel different during chewing.

Gum disease often arises when people stray from proper dental hygiene. We all live stressful, busy lives so it gets easy to skip brushing from time to time or forget to maintain good dental health. Over time, however, that can lead to periodontitis. In the early stages, periodontitis is easily curable. But if you don’t treat it right away, it leads to late-stage periodontitis which cannot be cured and causes painful, expensive, and dangerous consequences.

The Real Cost of Periodontitis

If you don’t treat your gum disease during the early stages, your periodontitis can cause bone loss, soft tissue damage, and loss of teeth. That can alter the shape of your face, as your cheeks collapse due to bone and teeth loss. Addressing that is complex and expensive.

Additionally, you can also develop bacterial pockets between your gums and teeth, get frequent infections, swelling , systemic inflammation, and chronic pain. Even worse, your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, and dementia all increase with periodontitis.

The Simple and Perfect Solution

At Heidelberg Dentist, we believe every patient deserves the best care for their oral health. 

We will help you understand exactly whether you have periodontitis and whether it is in an early or late stage. No matter what condition, we will help you understand exactly how to get your mouth to optimal health. If we discern that you need to take further steps to deal with gum disease, we will discuss those with you and answer any questions you have. We want to catch any issues that do develop as early as possible to avoid the significant pain and expense of untreated gum disease.

How Much Does It Cost?

Your periodontitis consultation will cost you nothing. We assume all costs for your exam so you can know your exact situation without paying a penny.

For some people, addressing or preventing gum disease costs nothing. Changing a few habits or switching toothpaste or mouthwash is all they need. Others might need professional intervention. Because of that, the cost of getting your mouth to optimal health will vary. The only way to know is to examine your mouth. That is why we offer a free, no-pressure consultation to all patients.

If we see that you require intervention to address any issues, we will discuss those options with you, evaluate any insurance coverage that might apply, and let you know of any out-of-pocket expenses you might assume. If you need help fitting your treatment into your budget, we will also show you several financing options to help you fit your care into even tight budgets.

Publisher: Heidelberg Dentist

Why do my gums bleed

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.

Publisher: Heidelberg Dentist