Brushing your teeth twice a day, while flossing daily and as needed are the staple oral hygiene habits that will keep your mouth and gums healthy. But if you are noticing that your gums are bleeding when you brush your teeth, you may be wondering what is happening in your mouth. It is common for gums to bleed when flossing if you do not do so regularly. But if your gums are bleeding every time you brush or floss, it is very possible that you have gum disease. The best way to know for sure is to make an appointment with your dentist immediately if you notice red, inflamed, or bleeding gums.

Causes

There are a few reasons why your gums are bleeding after brushing your teeth, but most point to gum disease. It is possible that you are brushing too vigorously and may need to lessen the pressure you apply to your toothbrush. Brushing your teeth is different from scrubbing the oven. Because it is done so often, you are merely clearing away the last meal's food from your teeth. You should brush thoroughly, but you do not need to apply extra elbow grease to get the job done. If there are stubborn stains or hardened plaque build up on your teeth, brushing harder will have no effect anyway so be gentle with your gums.

It is possible that your gums are bleeding from a health related concern like leukemia or a vitamin deficiency. But it is most likely that you have periodontal disease caused by poor oral hygiene in which bacteria is allowed to thrive in plaque on your teeth. The bacteria can inflame your gums, causing a recession of the gumline and can eventually lead to tooth and bone loss. Getting your periodontal disease under control is the first step to stopping this process to not only keep your gums from bleeding, but also save your teeth.

Good oral hygiene

While brushing and flossing are the standard oral hygiene habits to keep up with daily, it is still possible for plaque to build up and harden, turning into calculus, a stubborn substance that is difficult to remove. Regular appointments with your dentist will clear off any calculus so that bacteria doesn’t have a safe haven to get constant access to your teeth, causing severe damage in your mouth if left unchecked. Oral health can also have a huge impact on your overall health as well. Constant inflamed gums can allow bacteria to get into your bloodstream, which can lead to a heart attack or even stroke.

If you are in Coralville, IA and are in need of a dentist you can see regularly to prevent periodontal disease, give Coral West Dental a call to set up an appointment today.