How Concerned Should You Be If Your Gums Start To Bleed?

Blood when you spit after cleaning your teeth should be taken as a sign that all may not be well

Cleaning our teeth is, or should be, a standard part of our day. We probably do it largely out of habit and think little about it when we are doing it. This is fine provided that our teeth are brushed well, and whilst you will routinely put the brush down and go to bed or work, there may be occasions when something catches your eye which is outside the norm. When we spit after bruising our teeth, it is usually just the colour of the toothpaste that we use, but occasionally you might notice red flecks or worse mixed in with it. This is a sign that your gums are probably bleeding.

If this happens once, we might just put it down to catching the gum awkwardly or perhaps scratching it. If it happens more than once though, the likelihood is that you have gum disease. Although a tiny amount of blood may not seem that important, it should be taken as a warning sign that all is not well and you should make an appointment to see the hygienist at your local Burton dentist as soon as you possibly can.

What makes gums bleed?

Essentially, this is caused by a buildup of plaque. This is a sticky substance that sticks to teeth and especially around the gum line. Amongst other things, it contains bacteria that can be potentially harmful to our teeth and gums. Brushing and flossing will help to remove this but it is a constant battle and you will also need professional help to remove it when it combines with minerals and forms a harder material known as tartar. We will address this a little later on in the blog.

As the amount of plaque increases, so does the likelihood that the gums become infected. As this happens, the gums may well become sore and inflamed, making them more vulnerable to bleeding when they come into contact with the bristles of a toothbrush. Although a small amount of blood may appear to be reasonably trivial, it could be the start of something worse if you don’t get it checked out at Mike Allen’s Dental Practice.

Managing plaque buildup

Plaque is a sticky substance and can largely be removed at home with good oral care. This includes brushing your teeth twice a day, making sure that you clean around the gums and not just the flat surface of your teeth.

One of the most significant things that you can do to prevent gum disease though, which most of us don’t do, is to use floss. Plaque and food particles often get trapped between the teeth and in tight spaces that brushing can easily miss. Although it may seem a little tricky to use at first, it doesn’t take long to master and you will soon be doing it routinely in just a few minutes. In addition to the less visible bacteria, you will probably be surprised at how much food gets trapped in these areas; food that if left will break down and eventually probably cause tooth decay.

Drinking plenty of water is important too as this will keep you hydrated (bacteria love dry environments) as well as flushing food and bacteria away.

Tartar (also sometimes called calculus)

Tartar is similar to plaque except that it has, at this stage, combined with minerals contained in your saliva which enable it to form a hard ‘crust’ on the surface of your teeth and around the gums. Sometimes this might be noticeable by running your tongue over the surface. If it feels rough, it is likely that this has happened. Even if your teeth feel smooth though, it is still likely that tartar is present to some degree. Unfortunately, because of the fact that it is a hard material, it can’t be removed by home brushing or the use of floss.

This is where the team at Mike Allen’s Dental Practice comes in. We provide an oral hygiene service to help you with gum problems. This is multifaceted and includes education about your oral health as well as treatment to manage the problem. The hygienist will discuss your lifestyle choices and your cleaning habits and gently suggest ways that you could improve them. We think you will be surprised at the improvements that a few small adjustments can bring.

What this service is probably better known for though is the ‘scale and polish’, or as some less kindly call it, the ‘scrape and polish’ procedure. This is a non-invasive procedure that shouldn’t require a local anaesthetic. It consists of three main parts.

‘Scrape or scale’ – a manual tool will initially be used to scrape away the bulk of the tartar. This is not painful but you may sometimes feel a ‘pulling’ sensation especially where this is applied between the teeth. It is nothing to worry about though.

Sonic cleaning –  Once the bulk of the tartar has been cleaned away manually, a tool is used that uses soundwaves to shatter most of the remaining tartar, making it easier to remove. This is entirely painless but very effective.

Final clean – For this, a high speed brush is used to clean away any remnants of the tartar that remain. It is also effective at removing surface tartar from the teeth and will not only leave your teeth and gums in much better health than before but will make them look and feel much nicer too.

Ultimately, if you notice bleeding when you brush your teeth, even if it is only a little, you shouldn’t ignore it as, if left to advance, gum disease can have serious implications including potential tooth loss. At the first sign of your gums bleeding, make sure to contact your dentist as soon as you can. You can call our Burton upon Trent dental practice for an appointment on 01283 845345.