Why Are My Gums Always Bleeding?

It can be disconcerting to find blood mixed in with your toothpaste when you rinse after brushing your teeth. As the number one sign of gum disease, however, this kind of bleeding is a sign you shouldn't ignore, especially if it’s accompanied by pain or discomfort in your mouth.

While we just touched on the primary reason behind bleeding gums — periodontitis — there are others. To shed some light on this common issue, the team here at Baton Rouge Perio, including Dr. Barry Biner and Dr. Jenny Herman, wants to take a closer look at bleeding gums.

Bleeding gums are an early sign of gum disease

Periodontitis is a progressive condition in which bacteria slowly erode the soft (and hard) tissues in your mouth. It’s also a common issue — nearly half of adults aged 30 and older in the United States have some degree of gum disease.

In the earliest stage of gum disease — gingivitis — the bacteria are trying to get under your gums. As they make this attempt, they start to eat away at the seal around your teeth, which can lead to inflammation around your gum line. This inflammation also makes your gums more susceptible to bleeding, especially when you brush and floss.

As a warning sign, this type of gum bleeding is one you shouldn’t ignore. In most cases, we can step in and reverse your gingivitis by removing the plaque and tartar from around your gums. This early intervention can save you from additional trouble down the road with more advanced gum disease.

Other potential causes of bleeding gums

While gum disease accounts for more than its fair share of bleeding gums, there are other issues that can lead to this same symptom, such as:

• Pregnancy, which can lead to minor inflammation in your gums
• Taking blood thinners, which can make you more vulnerable to bleeding
• Brushing or flossing your gums too hard
• Issues with dentures or braces
• Vitamin K deficiency 
• Diabetes
• Leukemia

Even stress makes the list of possible culprits behind gum bleeding, as chronic stress can lead to system-wide inflammation that can affect your gums.

Getting help for your bleeding gums

If you’re not sure what’s causing the bleeding in your gums, we highly recommend that you come see us so we can perform a thorough oral examination of your teeth and gums. As you can see by the list above, bleeding gums can be a side effect of some moderate to serious health issues, so we want to get to the bottom of your gum bleeding and get your health, oral and otherwise, back on track.=

For expert diagnosis and treatment of your bleeding gums, schedule an appointment at our office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.