Why Do My Gums Bleed When I Brush? (When to See a Dentist in Coventry)

In this guide, we’re exploring some of the most common reasons you might notice blood in your spit when you are brushing your teeth. Alongside gum disease, there are other reasons you might notice a pink to red tinge. Often the best option when you notice blood in your spit is to book a checkup with your dentist so they can get to the bottom of the issue.

Common causes of bleeding gums

There are lots of reasons you might have bleeding gums when you brush your teeth. These include:

• Gum disease. This is when the gums become inflamed and irritated by the presence of bacteria in your mouth. It can lead to gum recession, when the gum shrinks away from the tooth. Over time, this persistent attack on the tissue supporting your teeth can lead to tooth loss.

• Impacted wisdom teeth. When your wisdom teeth cannot emerge correctly, they are known as impacted. This often leads to a partial flap of gum tissue covering the tooth, which can bleed when you brush your teeth. Over time, this area can become infected.

• Aggressive brushing or a firm toothbrush. Sometimes your brush or brushing style is to blame. If you are using a toothbrush with bristles that are too firm, this can cause your gums to bleed. The same can happen if you are using too much force to brush your teeth.

• Infected gums. If you have infections along the gum line, this will lead to bleeding when you brush. This is also likely to be painful, so you might also find it more difficult to brush.

What to do if your gums are bleeding

If you notice a pattern of seeing blood in your mouth when you brush your teeth, it’s time to book a checkup with your dentist. They can examine your teeth and gums and determine the cause. If there is no obvious cause, then we can assume that it is either your brush or brushing style that is causing the issue.

If your bleeding gums are caused by gum disease, you will need to commit to regular dental hygiene cleanings. You can also switch to special toothpaste and mouthwash specifically designed for tackling the bacteria that causes gum inflammation. This should help to bring the inflammation under control and will give your gums a chance to heal.

You might need a tooth extraction if your bleeding gums are caused by tooth decay or an impacted wisdom tooth. After around two weeks, the gum will heal over the extraction site and you should have no further bleeding when you brush your teeth.

Is bleeding gums an emergency?

Bleeding gums isn’t usually a condition that warrants an emergency appointment, but it does indicate that something is wrong, so you really shouldn’t ignore this. The exception would be if the bleeding is uncontrolled and does not stop when you bite down on a piece of gauze. In this case, it would be considered an emergency.

In all other instances, you should treat bleeding gums as a helpful warning sign that something is amiss with your oral health. As soon as you notice blood in your spit when you brush, book an appointment with your dentist. This is particularly important if your bleeding is accompanied by any pain, tenderness or discomfort when you bite down.

Acting quickly could help to stop the issue in its tracks and remove the need for more extensive treatment further down the line.