Bleeding Gums: Causes And Treatment In Gurgaon

 

 

Do your gums bleed while brushing or spontaneously? Do you feel the taste of blood in your mouth sometimes? Sore, painful, bleeding gums could be a sign or a symptom of many diseases of mouth and body.

Causes of Bleeding Gums:

Periodontitis or Pyorrhea

Pyorrhea or Periodontitis is a serious gum infection that causes damage to the gums and destroys the bone that supports the teeth.

Periodontitis is the most common reason for gum bleeding. Periodontitis, though very common, is largely a preventable disease. It is usually the result of poor oral hygiene.

Brushing at least twice daily, flossing and getting regular dental check-ups will go a long way in keeping pyorrhea and oral conditions at bay.

Types of Peridontitis

Gingivitis

It is the mildest form of gum disease. Gingivitis causes irritation and inflammation of the part of your gum around the base of your teeth (gingiva), gradually causing pockets to develop between your gums as well as teeth, which can be filled with Plaque, Tarter, and bacteria. Over time, these pockets may become deeper, filling them with more bacteria. If left untreated, these deep infections can cause loss of gum tissue and bone, and eventually, you may lose one or more teeth.

Gingivitis can be reversed with the right professional treatment and good at-home oral care.

Chronic Periodontitis

This is the advanced form of gingivitis. Gingivitis, when develops pockets and leads to bone and gum loss, is known as chronic periodontitis, affecting mostly adults.

Aggressive Periodontitis

It usually begins in childhood or early adulthood and affects only a very few people. If left untreated, it can cause rapid progression of bone and tooth loss.

Necrotizing Periodontitis

It is characterized by the death of gum tissue, tooth ligaments and supporting bone caused by lack of blood supply (necrosis), resulting in severe infection.

It generally occurs in people with a suppressed immune system, such as from Human Immunodeficiency Viru(HIV), Cancer treatment, and Malnutrition.

Cause of Periodontitis

Periodontitis is caused by bacteria that have been allowed to accumulate on your teeth and gums. In periodontitis, gums become infected. If not treated, the gums, bone, and tissues that support the teeth can be destroyed. The teeth may eventually become loose and have to be removed.

Plaque Formation

Plaque can form on your teeth when sugar and starches in food interact with bacteria normally found in your mouth. Brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing helps remove plaque, but plaque can rebuild quickly.

Tartar Formation

Plaque can harden and turn into calculus (Tartar) if it is allowed to stay on your teeth. Tartar is more difficult to remove and filled with bacteria. The longer calculus and Tartar remain on your teeth, the more damage they cause to the teeth and gums. Tou cannot get rid of this tartar by brushing and flossing and it requires professional teeth cleaning or scaling to remove it.

Symptoms of Gum Diseases

• Swollen, red puffy gums
• Bleeding from gum
• Yellowish pus between your teeth and gums
• Bad breath
• Gums that pull away from your teeth (recede), making your teeth look longer than normal
• Spaces developing between your teeth
• Loose Teeth
• Pain on chewing
• A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite

 

Complications of Gum Disease

Periodontitis can cause tooth loss. Research suggests that the bacteria responsible for periodontitis and bleeding gums can enter your bloodstream through the gum tissue, possibly affecting your heart, lungs, and other parts of the body. Many studies have shown that these bacteria can also cause low weight and premature deliveries in pregnant women.

Prevention of Gum Disease

Smoking or use of tobacco in any form is linked to an increased risk of developing periodontitis or aggravating your condition if you already have one. Quitting smoking helps prevent periodontal disease.

The best way to prevent periodontitis is to follow a program of good oral hygiene such as professional teeth cleaning which should be consistently practiced throughout your life.

Trauma To Gums & Teeth

Another common cause of gum bleeding is due to trauma from vigorous teeth brushing, ill-fitting dentures, or other sharp objects that can cause gums to bleed.

Diabetes

Swollen, bleeding gums can be a sign of diabetes. Diabetes weakens your immune response to disease and also decreases the healing power of your body and worsens your gum condition.

 

Vitamin C deficiency and Gum Bleeding

Vitamin C is necessary for the formation of the body’s collagen fibers and helps in the healing and repair of wounds. In case of deficiency of Vitamin C, it can cause a disease is known as scurvy and severe gum bleeding is a sign of this disease.

Vitamin K deficiency and Gum Bleeding

Vitamin K is essential for the formation of clotting factors in the body.  Clotting factors are produced in the liver of the human body with the help of vitamin K. In a condition such as alcoholic liver cirrhosis or hepatitis or other liver, function diseases may cause deficiency of vitamin k dependent clotting factors and continuous bleeding from gums

Hormonal Changes during Pregnancy and Puberty can Cuse Gum Bleeding

Hormonal changes during pregnancy and puberty may cause an exaggerated response of gums to the plaque and calculus and cause bleeding gums or sometimes even gum can form tumor-like growth called as  Pregnancy tumor.

It is advisable to visit your dentist for oral prophylaxis, teeth cleaning and other dental issues before planning a pregnancy.

Know-How Does Pregnancy Affect Dental Health

Mouth Breathing

Gum irritation and gum bleeding is more common in mouth breathers. Mouth breathing can be caused due to obstruction in the airway such as sinusitis, nasal polyps, or due to incompetent lips due to facial skeletal deformity.

In such cases, it is advised to consult Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon for proper treatment

Leukemia and Gum Bleeding

Leukemia in simple terms Blood cancer can cause bleeding gums which can be the earliest sign of the disease.

Leukemia leads to the deficiency of normal blood cells including platelets which are clot-forming cells and cause bleeding from gums and mouth.

Oral Cancers

Loose teeth and bleeding gums can present as early signs of oral cancer. Oral Cancer destroys gums and bone which can cause gums to bleed.

Blood Disorders

Certain Blood disorders such as Haemophilia and Thrombocytopenia cause deficiency in clotting factors and platelets respectively leads to bleeding from gums.

 

 

Bleeding Gums and Gum Diseases can worsen if ignored. Get the right advice and treatment from your Dentist or Gum Specialist.

If you are suffering from any kind of gum disease or bleeding gums contact Gum specialist in Gurgaon Dr.Himanshu Gupta Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon for advice and treatment.

 

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periodontal_disease