If you have bleeding gums, it’s because of the plaque that has accumulated at the gumline. Plaque contains harmful bacteria that attack the healthy tissue around the teeth. When this plaque builds up, the gums become irritated and inflamed. This can cause them to bleed and lead to periodontal disease. At the early stage of gingivitis, this gum disease is reversible, which makes it important to visit Dental Express in San Diego, CA as soon as you see your gums are bleeding. We offer periodontal cleanings that can thoroughly clean the teeth and gums to promote better oral health.
Bleeding gums causes
Several things can lead to irritated and bleeding gums. The most common cause is gingivitis or periodontitis. Vitamin deficiencies can also cause bleeding gums. A vitamin C deficiency can lead to gum bleeding, so up your intake of sweet potatoes, red peppers, oranges, and carrots to fight off gum infection more efficiently.
It’s important to never ignore bleeding gums. When gum disease is left untreated, and it advances to later stages, it can lead to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. This makes it important to have regular dental exams and routine dental cleanings to detect dental issues early on when they can be treated effectively.
Risk factors for developing gum disease
Some patients may be more at risk of developing gum disease in San Diego, CA. These risk factors include:
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Genetics: Some people are more predisposed to develop periodontal disease.
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Age: The chance of getting gum disease increases as you age.
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Stress: Stress is directly connected to periodontal disease as it makes it more difficult for your body to fight off this gum infection.
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Smoking: Smokers have nearly twice the risk of getting gum disease compared to those who don’t smoke.
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Poor oral hygiene. When you don’t follow a proper at-home oral hygiene routine, you’re more likely to develop plaque buildup, which causes gum disease.
Signs of gingivitis
Bleeding gums may be the only symptoms you experience when you first develop gingivitis. Some other signs of early stages of gum disease include:
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Red, swollen, or tender gums
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Bad breath
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Loose teeth
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Bite changes
Gingivitis is easy to deal with if you address it early on. Our dental professionals at Dental Express in San Diego, CA can help deep clean your teeth to ensure that your gum disease doesn’t progress to more advanced and damaging stages. Once gum erosion happens, pockets form between the teeth and gums where harmful bacteria gets trapped and attacks the bone that supports the teeth. This can lead to both tooth and bone loss.
Scaling and root planing
At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we do deep periodontal cleanings called scaling and root planing. If you think you have gum disease and are experiencing bleeding gums, you will need to have your teeth and gums evaluated by our professionals. Treating gum disease may require many visits to avoid more invasive procedures. Scaling and root planing is used to remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar buildup underneath the gums. During this deep cleaning, our dentist uses a scaler to get rid of the buildup. Next, they smooth the tooth so that bacteria cannot hide and cause another infection in the future. This treatment is recommended for anyone with gum pockets that are deeper than three millimeters. This nonsurgical gum disease treatment helps treat bleeding gums.
Treat bleeding gums quickly
Our team at Dental Express in San Diego, CA can provide efficient treatment options for patients with bleeding gums. We aim to treat gum disease early on before it becomes more advanced and causes more damage to your gums. We perform thorough dental exams to determine whether or not you have gum disease and, if you do, what stage you’re in. From there, we can suggest treatment options, like scaling and root planing, to resolve your periodontal disease. To schedule an appointment to learn how to treat your bleeding gums, call our dental professionals at Dental Express today.