Why do my gums bleed when I brush or floss?

It is scary to see bleeding gums when you brush and floss. Our mouth is full of bacteria, some are good and some are bad bacteria, the bad bacteria produce acid and this acid eats away at the skin of the gum and ultimately makes your gums bleed.(Harmful bacteria and agents underneath the gum, cause infection and also make your gums bleed.) Bleeding gums is the first sign of a  problem with your gums like gingivitis and  periodontitis.

ORAL HEALTH IS A WINDOW TO OVERALL HEALTH. Oral health is linked to many health conditions like diabetes,stroke,heart disease,premature or low birth weight in babies etc. 

You should tell your dentist about your bleeding gums. Early detection of gum disease is the key to save your teeth and your life. At our office in Worcester we treat this condition with scaling and root planing, without using a needle. In this procedure we remove bacteria and harmful agents underneath gums with use of ultrasonic scaler. We also use laser to treat this condition.

It is very important that you continue to brush your teeth 2-3 minutes twice a day and floss once a day to protect your gum health. Make sure to visit your dentist every 3 months after gum treatment.

Author

Nikhil Patel, DMD Dentist