If you’ve noticed that your gums bleed when you brush your teeth, it could mean you have gum disease or gingivitis, or periodontitis.
Although gingivitis does not hurt, it can cause bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth. We can see it when the gum changes colour to a deep red. In its more acute stages it can cause pain, oozing or loss of interdental papillae.
The next stage involves the loss of the bone that supports the teeth and is called periodontitis, also known as pyorrhoea. The teeth start to move and if all the tartar accumulated on the surface and at the root of the teeth is not removed, they will end up being lost completely.
At Gross Dentistas we are specialists in periodontics which is the branch of dentistry that prevents, diagnoses and treats diseases of the tissues that support and protect the teeth. This is where we commonly see bleeding gums, and where we implement treatments to solve the problem.
If you notice that your gums bleed when you brush your teeth, don’t let it go – get to your dental appointment before it’s too late to heal your gums.
Why do bleeding gums occur? Know about the causes
Bleeding gums are usually caused by plaque, which is a sticky film of bacteria that builds up on and around the teeth and also between teeth. If plaque is not removed properly, it can irritate the gums and cause them to become inflamed and eventually bleed.
There are also other less common but important causes to consider, such as excessive toothbrushing, using too much force when brushing, using a new toothbrush, a new flossing routine and certain medications.
There can also be a genetic predisposition to periodontitis, as well as the effects of age, work, stress, poorly controlled systemic diseases, hormonal changes…
Periodontics treatments we do at Gross Dentistas
There are three treatments related to bleeding gums that we perform depending on the problem our patient has.
The first is scaling and root planing for patients who have periodontal diseases with loss of bone support. It consists of two sessions: in the first one we make a radiographic series and measure the periodontal pockets of the upper arch tooth by tooth under local anaesthesia, and then we do the actual scaling; in the second session we do the same process but on the lower arch. After a month and a half we do a re-evaluation to see if the treatment is working and if it is, we move on to periodontal maintenance every six months.
Another treatment is crown lengthening for people who have too much gum or gummy smile as it is also known. This means that the heritage is covering part of the crown of the tooth and is an aesthetic as well as a functional and periodontal problem. The treatment here is crown lengthening surgery.
Finally we have crown grafting treatment. This consists of removing soft tissue from the palate or tuberosity to cover a root or a surface of the implant that is exposed. In this way we avoid discomfort or sensitivity, as well as poor aesthetics.
The most important thing to remember is that if you suffer from bleeding gums you should see our dentists as soon as possible. We are located in Malaga and we have a great experience and hundreds of satisfied patients with our services and treatments. Make an appointment at our dental clinic in Malaga to make a personalised diagnosis that will allow us to find the source of your bleeding gums and solve it for good.
Ortodoncista especializada en el sistema de ortodoncia invisible, extensa trayectoria profesional y un gran número de pacientes satisfechos con los resultados obtenidos tras la finalización de su tratamiento.