Bleeding Gums – What does it Mean?
Do you have bleeding gums?
This is one of the most common complaints we see each and every day. Mostly this is simply a result of poor oral hygiene however it can be a symptom of more serious underlying diseases. If you are experiencing bleeding gums, don’t just leave it and hope it goes away, something is going on, come in and see Dr Jamie and he can help sort the problem
Why choose Dr Workman to look after you?
Not only is Dr Workman a very good dentist, he has genuine caring nature and always makes sure you feel truly looked after. This is why he has such a loyal following of, families, young professionals right through to our older generation. With over 12 years experience, he is young, passionate, great at what he does and has an excellent aesthetic eye. If you would like a dental professional you can really trust, who places your health, happiness and comfort as an absolute priority, then you would be hard pushed to look any further. If you have typed ‘dentist near me’ then our state of the art Maroubra dental practice won’t be far away.
Why are my gums swollen?
Bleeding gums are usually accompanied by some level of swelling, since the two go hand in hand. If you aren’t cleaning properly or have active gum disease or a build up of plaque or calculus then the body responds by opening up blood vessels to send more blood to the area to help protect it.
As the blood vessels open up they increase in size and the gums thus appear swollen.
Remove the cause by a dental cleaning and the gums will return to normal- the redness, swelling and bleeding will stop. Inadequately removed plaque from the gum line will over time harden forming calculus (the build up most people get a build-up behind their front bottom teeth). This attracts more plaque and the process continues. Inflammation of the gums is called gingivitis and is reversible. It can however lead to more serious gum disease.
What causes bleeding gums?
Bleeding gums can be caused by:
– Plaque
– Calculus (tartar)
– Food packing
– Poor oral hygiene
– Not flossing
– Not seeing a dentist for deeper cleans
– Pregnancy (and other hormonal changes)
– Medications than increase the tendency to bleed (Anticoagulants e.g. warfarin, Antiplatelet drugs, e.g. aspirin and clopidogrel. Certain epilepsy, convulsion and seizure medications, Chemotherapy drugs, Immunosuppressant drugs and certain heart medications).
– Stopping smoking- Smoking actually suppresses bleeding gums since the nicotine causes blood vessels in the gums to constrict. It masks a surprising amount of damage and is a serious risk factor in gum disease and oral cancer. If you stop smoking your gums can bleed significantly especially if your hygiene isn’t great and you haven’t been seeing a dentist. It is just your body’s response returning to normal. It can take a couple of weeks to calm down but please persevere.
It can be a sign of:
– Gingivitits
– Periodontitis (gum disease)
– Dental pocketing
– Vitamin C and vitamin K deficiencies
– Some more serious medical conditions
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What are the signs and symptoms?
You may notice one or more of the following in addition to the bleeding and if you do then it’s really important to see Dr Jamie to rule out more serious problems:
- Bad breath
- A bad or metallic taste
- Swollen or inflamed gums
- Very red or dark purple gums
- Tenderness when brushing or flossing
- Receding gums
- Loose teeth
- Abscesses- a localised swelling of pus.
Left untreated, significant irreversible damage may occur which can lead to pain, your teeth moving and eventually the need to have them extracted. This is the progression of gum disease; it’s much easier to treat in its early stages and the prognosis is greatly improved by excellent hygiene and regular care and deep cleaning by Dr Jamie once it is identified you are susceptible.
How do you treat bleeding gums?
As always Dr Jamie will tell you getting the correct diagnosis is the first crucial stage.
This will involve an examination where he will get chance to ask you a number of relevant questions, including your medications, smoking, diet, other symptoms and about your oral hygiene practices.
It will involve examining your teeth and gums and x-rays are also likely to be required for assessment of gum disease. The treatment for gum disease is more involved if identified from the x-ray, and he will guide you through all the questions you may have at the appropriate time.
The treatment required largely comes down to the stage of the disease and in certain circumstances this may require referral to a specialist periodontist.
Gingivitis however is fairly simple to treat and involves professional teeth cleaning in order to remove plaque, calculus build up and dental prophylaxis. After the treatment, Dr Jamie will guide you through your home care regime, to ensure you keep everything nice and clean – so your gums have a chance to heal.
If gums continue to bleed without the presence of gingivitis – which will take a week to settle down – Dr Jamie may need to refer you for a full blood count to see if you have any deficiencies which are contributing to the problem.
Thinking of becoming a patient with us?
We’ve put together all the information you need to decide if we are the right dentist for you.
How can I prevent bleeding gums?
First you need the harder calculus and tartar removed; as there is no way this is coming off with a toothbrush and flossing alone. Dr Jamie will give you instructions on how to properly take care of your gums and teeth at home- the correct technique for brushing, flossing and using the little interpoximal brushes if they fit.
He will also recommend brushing the back of your tongue which harbours a lot of bacteria implicated in gum disease. If the cause of bleeding is a result of other factors above, then these will also need addressing.
Once under control you simply need to return every 6 months for your regular check up and clean.
Summary Box:
Treatment time | 2 visits, total time 1hr 30 mins |
Cost | From $1500* |
Have a Question?
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Alternatively if you would prefer to speak with someone directly or book an appointment, please call our lovely staff at the Maroubra Dental Centre on 02 9133 4005.
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- Dr Jamie’s education site; Jamiethedentist.com where you can hear him speak and read about TOPIC in a lot more detail.
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What is a gum disease?
Gum disease is a very common dental problem that affects the bone supporting your teeth.
Unlike gingivitis (a reversible swelling of your gums), gum disease or periodontitis (as it’s known to us), involves the irreversible loss of the bone that holds your teeth in.
Why get a dental cleaning?
We recommend getting your teeth cleaned with Dr Jamie every 6 months when you have your dental check up. The health benefits of doing so can extend way behind the obvious, but let’s start there: a scale and clean, scale and polish or dental cleaning- all phrases for the same thing: removal of plaque, bacteria, calculus above and below the gum line and the removal of staining… leaving you with a fresher, whiter, brighter smile.
Are you looking for a great dentist in Maroubra?
Dr. Jamie has been looking after families and professionals in Maroubra for nearly 12 years now since he moved from the UK.
He is very proud of the number of patients that refer their friends and family to him, and, believes this crucial fact is the best indicator of whether someone feels looked after, cared for and that has faith in his ability.