Bleeding gums when you brush is one of the most common symptoms of gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. It occurs because plaque that has accumulated at and just below the gum margin drives an inflammatory response in the gum tissue, making the blood vessels more fragile and the tissue more prone to bleeding on contact. The important thing to understand is that bleeding gums are not normal, even though they are very common. Healthy gums do not bleed on routine brushing. The fact that gums bleed may seem minor, particularly when it is painless, but it is a clinical signal that there is active inflammation at the gum margin that needs professional assessment. In many cases, thorough professional scaling and improved home oral hygiene resolve gingivitis completely, and the bleeding stops. If bleeding has been present for more than two weeks, or is associated with gum recession, looseness of teeth, or persistent bad breath, a periodontal assessment rather than a routine cleaning is what is needed. At Dentacure, Kasturi Nagar, Bengaluru, the assessment I perform will tell you exactly which stage of gum disease is present and what treatment is needed to resolve it.
Written by Dr. Prerana G.K., BDS, MDS (Periodontology, Distinction), Consultant Periodontist and Implantologist, Dentacure Multispeciality Dental Clinic, Kasturi Nagar, Bengaluru 560043. Phone: +91 7259967999.
