Why are my Gums Bleeding?

You’re giving your teeth a good scrubbing in the morning, but when you spit out the toothpaste, you notice a bit of red in the white foam – or a streak of crimson on your floss.

There are many reasons your gums may bleed, including overly enthusiastic brushing, but the most common cause is also one of the easiest problems to deal with.

Gingivitis (or gum inflammation)

The most prominent reason for bleeding gums is gingivitis, caused by gum inflammation. 

This happens when you don’t get your teeth completely cleaned, which allows bacteria to gather at the root of the tooth, right next to your gums. This creates plaque build-up, which can irritate your gums and cause them to become inflamed.

Periodontitis – the next step in gum disease

If not taken care of, gingivitis could turn into periodontitis. At this point, the inflammation of the gums becomes so bad that they begin to pull away from the teeth, and the teeth themselves may even become loose.

Periodontitis also causes:

  • Bad breath

  • An unpleasant taste

  • Tooth loss

Combatting gingivitis early

It is important to tackle gingivitis early before it becomes periodontitis and threatens to affect lasting change on your smile.

The good news is that fighting gingivitis is as easy as 1-2-3.

  1. Floss once a day

  2. Brush twice a day (for 2-3 minutes each time) with a soft-bristled brush

  3. See your dentist regularly

However, if you want, you can add in a fourth step: anti-bacterial mouthwash.

With these defences in your oral health arsenal, you can keep your gums and teeth healthy and bacteria-free.

Other causes of bleeding gums

  • Brushing too hard – you don’t have to brush hard to get good results. If your toothbrush tends to wear out quickly, try using less pressure when brushing.

  • Hard-bristled toothbrushes – while many think a stiff bristle cleans better, the truth is you’re just damaging your teeth and gums. Soft-bristled brushes are almost always better and less likely to make your gums bleed.

  • New to flossing – if you’ve just started flossing, your gums are probably going to bleed until they get used to it.

  • Improper flossing technique – if you’ve been flossing for quite some time and your gums still bleed, chances are you’re being too aggressive or flossing wrong. When flossing, make sure to be gentle and focus on scraping the tooth with the floss, not your gumline.

Conner Hendry