Hormonal changes. Diabetes. Heart disease. Clotting disorders. Cancers, like Leukemia. AIDS. Scurvy. Blood thinning medications. Genetic factors/genetic syndromes. Contraceptive pills.
Gum disease is also related to other severe medical conditions like heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease because of constantly storing bacteria that can easily enter the bloodstream.
Regular trips to the dentist - at least once every six months - are an important way to combat gum disease. It’s not possible to brush and floss away every little bit of plaque before it turns into hard tartar on your teeth, unless the brush used is accurate in allowing small up/down movements, and once it becomes tartar you can’t remove it yourself. Your dentist has the right tools to get rid of the tartar that’s leading to bleeding gums. [4] X Trustworthy Source American Dental Association World’s largest dental professional organization and advocate for proper oral health Go to source Using x-rays, the dentist can show you whether dangerous tartar has formed underneath the gums. This type of tartar is difficult to remove just with regular dental hygiene. You may need surgery, but this will save your teeth for a long time. Seek medical attention soon if you notice the following symptoms in addition to gum bleeding:[5] X Research source Pockets formed between your teeth and gums. Loose teeth. A change in the way your teeth fit together. Receding gums leaving sensitive teeth and dark triangles between teeth. Swollen, red and tender gums or even abscess of the gums where pus is visible. Gums that bleed a lot when you brush your teeth.
Consider getting an electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes are gentle on your teeth and very effective at reaching to the back to remove plaque. Choose a brush that has been approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). If there’s one particular part of your mouth that feels sensitive, or seems to bleed more often, spend more time gently brushing that area. Gently massage the spot with your toothbrush for 3 minutes. This will help remove the plaque affecting the area.
Don’t snap the floss violently between your teeth. This doesn’t get them cleaner; it just hurts your fragile gums. Gently pull the floss between your teeth and swipe your gums. Clean the front of your teeth by holding the floss in a U-shape at the top of each tooth and gently swiping downward. Go as far back as you can and floss both surfaces of the papilla, meaning that you need to floss the tooth in front and the tooth behind each time.
There is also an electric device which sprays water similar to a shower through a small tip called oral irrigator. The advantage is that you can add mouthwash for increased antibacterial protection.
Scaling and root planing. The dentist administers local anesthetic and scrapes away the tartar as well as smoothing rough spots. [11] X Expert Source Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MSBoard Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon Expert Interview. 30 September 2020. This is usually done when there is tartar buildup under the gum line and there is an incipient stage of periodontitis. Flap surgery and pocket reduction. If you have advanced gum disease, your dentist may decide that surgery is the best option. [12] X Expert Source Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MSBoard Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon Expert Interview. 30 September 2020. Flap surgery reduces the space between the gum and the tooth so that plaque can’t form underneath so easily. This helps the bone to recover and eliminates anaerobic bacteria which is the main cause of periodontitis. Flap surgery has a better long term result than any other type of treatment. Grafts of tissue or bones. If periodontitis has cause your gums to recede and your bones to deteriorate, tissue and bone can be grafted from other parts of the mouth to the affected area. [13] X Expert Source Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MSBoard Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon Expert Interview. 30 September 2020. Your periodontist may also choose to graft artificial bone which can be either hydroxyapatite or bovine bone.
Cut back on sugar. Eating a lot of sugar causes tartar to build up fast - faster than you can brush or floss it away. Cutting back should help your gums heal quickly. Eat fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C, like kale, mangoes, broccoli and grapefruit. Eat high-calcium foods like spinach and dairy products.
Smoking inhibits blood circulation in the gums, causing the gums to be much more prone to getting diseased because the blood has plenty of factors to fight against bacteria and reducing the circulation also reduces protection. Smoking actually lowers the success rate of gum disease treatments.
