Causes of Bleeding Gums

MESA, AZ, August 22, 2012 (Press-News.org) Your gums have a major impact on your oral health. They create a seal around your teeth so that you do not get infections beneath your gum line from food particles and other debris that does not get adequately cleaned off your teeth. Your gums also serve as support to your teeth in the region where they come out of the jaw bone.

Bleeding gums is often a sign that the health of this tissue has been compromised. It is commonly an indicator that you may be suffering from periodontal disease. It may also be an indicator of serious systemic diseases such as diabetes or luekemia. It is critical that you treat bleeding gums as soon as the problem develops. Delaying this important treatment may lead to serious oral health issues such as tooth loss.

What Causes Bleeding Gums?

The most common cause of bleeding gums is periodontal disease. In the early stages of gum disease, called gingivitis, a buildup of plaque on the surface of your teeth begins to irritate your gum tissue, making it swollen, spongy, and tender. You may find that your gums bleed from light contact during eating or brushing your teeth when you have gingivitis. If you fail to treat the condition at this time, your gum disease may progress to a more advanced stage called periodontitis. Periodontitis is often accompanied by more extensive bleeding of the gums and pocket formation and infections between gums and teeth. Eventually, it may even result in tooth loss.

Other common causes of bleeding gums include:

- Brushing too hard - Overly vigorous brushing with medium or hard toothbrushes often damages your teeth and gums due to its abrasive nature. If your gum tissue is unhealthy or infected, this vigorous brushing can result in bleeding gums.
- Smoking - Smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco severely irritates the tissues and causes plaque and tartar to accumulate more rapidly. This can further irritate your gums and lead to periodontal disease, which is a primary cause of bleeding gums.
- Vitamin K deficiency - Vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting. If you lack sufficient levels of Vitamin K, it may cause your gums to bleed.
- Leukemia - Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects your bone marrow and white blood cells. One of the common symptoms associated with leukemia is bleeding gums.
- Diabetes- Diabetes Types 1 and 2, insulin deficiencies, both cause heavy gingival swelling and bleeding
- Hormonal changes - This is particularly common among women during pregnancy. Fluctuations in hormone levels can result in an increase in fluid found in your gum tissue, making them red, tender, and swollen. In this situation, bleeding gums are generally temporary and will go away once your hormone levels have returned to normal.
- Drugs - Certain drugs such as oral contraceptives, anticoagulants, and antidepressants may cause your gums to bleed.
- Autoimmune disorders - Autoimmune disorders cause your immune system to attack its own cells. Some of these conditions, including Rheumatoid Arthritis, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus can result in bleeding gums.
- Ill-fitting dentures - Dentures that do not fit properly can irritate your gums and cause them to bleed.

You should always visit your dentist right away if you notice your gums are bleeding. This will ensure that the cause of your bleeding gums is addressed in a timely manner. Failure to do so can result in dire consequences for your health.

For more information on bleeding gums, please visit the website of Dr. Scott LeSueur and Dr. Charles Dodaro today, serving patients in Mesa, Arizona at www.drsofsmiles.com.