“I had some bleeding in my gums while brushing. Could it be serious?”
I experienced slight bleeding in my gums while brushing this morning. Usually that never happens. Could it be something serious?
37 Answers
Bleeding gums, or Gingivitis is the first sign that your gums are not healthy. Dont take bleeding gums lightly, it is a sign of inflammation, and should be treated asap to avoid it progressing into a more serious stage of gum disease; Periodontal Disease. Don't wait to get bleeding gums taken care of. Do it NOW!
There could be multiple reasons. Hormonal changes, not flossing properly are common. Getting a professional cleaning at your dental office is important.
It may be a sign of something more serious however the only way to determine its seriousness is to visit a dentist.
Usually, bleeding gums are a sign that something is going on. Almost like a built-in barometer, our body has a way of letting us know. Unfortunately, gum disease is silent and the only way to know that it is even happening is with the presence of bleeding, shifting of teeth, or bad breath. See your family dentist to rule out any potential problems.
This might indicate that there is some inflammation due to inefficient brushing and flossing.
Should it become generalized and affecting all of the gingival tissues then it should be checked by a Professional to ensure there is no evidence of any other systemic disorder
Should it become generalized and affecting all of the gingival tissues then it should be checked by a Professional to ensure there is no evidence of any other systemic disorder
It is probably due to gum infection. You will need to get your teeth cleaned in a dental office. Meanwhile, I would recommend flossing regardless of pain or bleeding. It will get better after you floss few times.
Hopefully it is not a sign of something serious, but it is a sign that something is wrong. Perhaps minor gingivitis. You should certainly have your dentist check this out for you soon as possible.
You probably have the start of gingivitis-inflammation of the gums. I would recommend start flossing. At least once per day or 3 times a day. For a week. The gums will be sore, bleed, and heal, all at the same time. Healthy gums don't bleed. Floss regularly. You can get those floss picks which are easier and even a floss handle which you attach disposable flossers to. Thank you for the question. Answered by Dr. Art J DeAngelo, DDS
If it only happened once, then you may have cut the gums with food, etc, and don't worry too much, but of this is a normal occurrence, then yes it's something more serious and you should get checked ASAP
probably have gum disease. get a good cleaning, ask the dentist to do a perio charting and get a copy. look at it and if there are any numbers 5 or higher, ask dentist to show you where 5 millimeters is on their perio probe. then ask them to show you the pocket in your mouth while you watch in the mirror. if it is really 5 mm deep, then follow their instructions and get scaling and root planing in each quadrant (upper left, lower right, etc.) where the charting shows 5 mm. pockets or higher. the pockets must be reduced in order to be able to control gum disease and if you aren't going to commit to flossing almost every day, the treatment will ultimately fail. then you will live with the disease, you will not be in a state of health, and this may lead to premature tooth loss.
Some bleeding is normal, particularly if you haven't had your teeth cleaned in a while. You may have gingivitis which is inflammation of the gums. If this doesn't happen frequently for you, I'm pretty sure you are okay. If you are concerned then see your dentist.
Bleeding in the gums is an indication of diseased gums. It is the start of the process of periodontal disease. Great neiva will become inflamed and hyper vascular in an attempt to remove bacteria in the area. If you are experiencing bleeding while brushing it would be an excellent idea to visit your dentist for a periodontal evaluation to prevent progression of disease process and loss of bone.
I tell all of my patients "healthy gums don't bleed". If you have bleeding in spots, it is likely localized gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). Typically caused by plaque accumulations which contain bacteria or sometimes a foreign body or food caught between the teeth or under the gums. If it continues untreated for a long period of time can lead to a more severe periodontitis, which causes bone loss around the teeth and can lead to eventual tooth loss. In early stages can be completely treated and reversed. Time for a check up with your dentist and hygienist, (which is recommended every six months)
If this is the first time your gums have bled, it is unlikely that there is a serious concern. Most likely there was a build-up of some irritant in that area or lack of appropriate hygiene has increased the inflammation in that area temporarily. With appropriate brushing and flossing technique along with oral rinses of warm salt water or chlorhexidine rinse I would expect the bleeding to diminish within the next day or two. If it does persist please call your local dentist for proper examination.
Bleeding is never good. I would not worry...just brush and floss better if it happens on an occasion. If it happens more often, see the dentist.
Gum bleeding can be caused by a number of things; oral hygiene, periodontal disease, medication, trauma, pregnancy are a few reasons. If the bleeding occurred in just one area it might have been caused by trauma to the gum, infrequent or improper brushing can also cause gums to bleed. It is very hard to determine the cause without actually seeing the patient and examining the mouth, I would recommend seeing your dentist to determine the cause and possible treatments.
Michelle B. Deutch
Dentist
You may have gingivitis. You should get a dental exam to make sure you are not getting periodontal disease. Or you may just need to floss or use a waterpik along with your brushing.
Healthy gums should not bleed when brushing or flossing! Bleeding is an early warning sign of gingivitis and other more serious forms of gum disease. Best to go to a dentist and have a comprehensive examination including taking the periodontal probing depths. That will help determine what is going on.
Bleeding Gums equals inflammation in the gums. Inflammation is reversible with adequate and proper and consistent oral hygiene techniques. If the bleeding is a new occurrence have it checked to rule out anything more serious than localized inflammation. Sometimes it might be an indicator of a more established gum infection with accompanying bone loss which if not intercepted early enough might set you on an path to eventual tooth loss.
Slight bleeding is not serious. However if you are seeing your dentist regularly than it’s important to bring this up at your next appointment. If you recently saw your dentist make a call and ask if there was anything in your clinical exam that was noted that may be causing the bleeding.
This is not healthy. Bleeding gums are generally considered a sign of gingivitis or gum disease. It can also be a sign of more serious medical issues. Think about this, wouldn't you worry if your fingers bled when you cleaned them in the morning?
There are some reasons for your gum bleeding while brushing:
1- You irritated you gum by brushing harder than usual!
2- You have not seen your dentist regularly (every 6 months) and plaque is accumulating there that causes gum irritation and thereafter gum bleeding!
3- You are pregnant and due to hormone changes you are experiencing gum bleeding!
4- You have started a new medicine that one of its side effect is gum bleeding!
5- You had something hot, or scratched your gum by something sharp (like chips or hard cracker).
Please contact your dentist if you think none of the above could be the reason.
1- You irritated you gum by brushing harder than usual!
2- You have not seen your dentist regularly (every 6 months) and plaque is accumulating there that causes gum irritation and thereafter gum bleeding!
3- You are pregnant and due to hormone changes you are experiencing gum bleeding!
4- You have started a new medicine that one of its side effect is gum bleeding!
5- You had something hot, or scratched your gum by something sharp (like chips or hard cracker).
Please contact your dentist if you think none of the above could be the reason.
It depends of the reason. Do you experience stress at the moment? Hard period? Low immune system due to illness? Long period of not really taking good care of your teeth? Toothbrush used more than 3 months? In most of the cases there is one of the first signs that your body misses a vitamin or mineral or something light. It can also be a local problem of the gums, or something more serious like diabetes. Make an appointment with your dentist for a check and a GP for blood test in case the problem is still not solved through the indications of the dentist. Or both if you are really concerned.
Probably not serious if it doesn’t happen normally. If it becomes more persistent or uncomfortable , then schedule a visit to see your dentist.
It may be the beginning of gum inflammation. Normally, a good dental cleaning every 6 months should keep your gums nice and healthy.
It certainly could be the start of something serious. You should consult your Dental Professional. Good luck.
Mark Johnson
Mark Johnson
Yes, this could be serious. You might just have gingivitis which is relatively easy to treat, or any stage of the periodontal disease, which is much harder to treat. It is very important to have your teeth examined which should include full mouth X-rays. Likely for you, the above conditions can be diagnosed quickly and an appropriate treatment can be prescribed.
Great question! Healthy gums shouldn't bleed while brushing. This is a sign of possible gingivitis or periodontitis. I would encourage you to see a dentist for a full exam to figure out why they are bleeding and how to stop this from continuing.
Bleeding while brushing is an indication of gingivitis (gum inflammation/disease) and/or Periodontitis (gum disease with bone loss). I would strongly recommend you go see a dentist for a professional evaluation and dental cleaning. That will help you. In the meantime, you can do salt water rinses at home 5 times a day for 5 days and the bleeding will reduce. But seeing a dentist soon ultimately will help you stop the progression of the disease and save your teeth.