Bleeding Gums

The gums, gingivae, in professional terms, are the pink, fibrous tissue attached to the jaw bone.  All healthy gums have a good blood supply, and will bleed, if you brush too hard or accidentally injure them, but the first sign of gum disease is swelling, and a darker, unhealthy tone of redness.

Bleeding gums are common in pregnancy, when hormone changes weaken the connective tissue, but if you are not pregnant, and you experience regular bleeding each time you brush, and you are not brushing too hard, or have not experienced this in the past, you are probably experiencing the beginning of gum disease, or gingivitis. 

Gingivitis is caused by plaque, which is a layer of bacteria that forms on teeth gradually, over time. Eating or drinking sugar, and not cleaning your teeth often, or well enough, encourages plaque growth.

Gingivitis can be cleared up by good dental hygiene.  Regular brushing and flossing after meals, and before bed, will remove plaque and prevent gingivitis.

Some people seem more prone to bleeding gums than others. Things like stress, smoking, poor diet, uncontrolled diabetes, and Vitamin C deficiencies can cause bleeding gums.

In the late stages of gum disease, teeth may become loose or even fall out, and you may become prone to painful pockets of infection, called abscesses.

Home Remedies for Bleeding Gums:

Good Oral Hygiene:

The single best treatment for gingivitis is good oral hygiene. Brushing alone only removes plaque from the surfaces of the teeth the toothbrush can reach.

It is important to floss carefully, before you brush, to remove food particles (if you have gingivitis, it will probably bleed, but it is important to continue to floss) and brush gently, in a circular motion, on all surfaces of the teeth.

Brushing after meals, sugary drinks or snacks, and especially before bed, is the first step to curing your gingivitis.

Toothpaste:

A good, natural toothpaste that is gentle and effective in aiding the cure of gingivitis, is dipping your toothbrush into hydrogen peroxide, then baking soda, followed by rinsing with hydrogen peroxide, then a thorough rinse with water, or rinsing after brushing with a mouthwash containing chlorhexidine.

Saline Rinse:

Another home remedy is taking regular saline rinses.  Take a glass of warm water, add a pinch of salt, and rinse thoroughly several times a day. This will increase circulation, and reduce swelling. 

It is said that massaging essential oils, such as almond oil, spearmint oil, and peppermint oil into swollen, bleeding gums, provides relief, and promotes healing.