Gingivitis: The Leading Cause Of Bleeding Gums That You Can Fix

Gingivitis and how it affects your bleeding gums

Gingivitis is the medical term given that describes an inflammation of the gums. A bacterial infection often causes it. As you may already know, gingivitis is the leading cause of bleeding gums.

The sad truth is that many people suffering from gingivitis do nothing about it. As you can imagine, that’s the last thing anyone should do. Especially since gingivitis could develop into more painful forms of gum disease!

However, the good news is that gingivitis is a medical condition that is treatable. Here are some practical tips to help you fight back against Gingivitis:

Understanding the Causes of Gingivitis

Before we explain how you can fix gingivitis, it’s important you understand what it is. You will have noticed that your gums attach to your teeth. However, what you might not know is they connect at lower edges than what you can see. Food often gets stuck in that tiny space. If food doesn’t get shifted from those small crevices, you’ll end up with a gum infection. This is what we call gingivitis.

The bacteria caused by gingivitis thrives on food. So, whenever you’re eating, you’re also feeding that bacteria too!

There is a small space called the sulcus where your gums meet your teeth. It’s at a lower point than the gum edges that we see. Food can get trapped in this space and cause a gum infection or gingivitis.

If left untreated, plaque can form on your teeth. In a nutshell, plaque is a layer of bacteria. As it builds up, it begins to harden and forms what we call tartar.

Can Anything Increase the Risk of Gingivitis?

Some risk factors can increase your chances of getting gingivitis. The obvious one is by not cleaning your teeth regularly. Other risk factors include smoking, diabetes, broken teeth, and even genetics.

People with a weak immune system and pregnant women are also more likely to have gingivitis.

How to Stop (and Prevent) Your Bleeding Gums

Now that you know more about gingivitis, it’s time to find out how to stop your gums from bleeding! First of all, it would be wise to make a dental appointment. That way, the severity of your gingivitis can get assessed. Also, you can also learn about the best course of action for your individual case.

To prevent your gums from bleeding in the future, there are some simple steps that you can take at home. First of all, you should brush your teeth every day without fail. Some people do so after eating a meal. Though, that’s not always practical. Therefore, you should brush your teeth once in the morning when you wake up and in the evening before bed.

After brushing, floss your teeth. There are a variety of products on the market you can use. Be sure to clean between your teeth and behind them too. Lastly, you should rinse your mouth out with mouthwash.

Leave a Reply