Causes of bleeding gums that you may never realize

Have you ever been confused about seeing bleeding gums when brushing your teeth? So far, you may only think of it as a trifle. However, be careful because bleeding gums can also be a sign of various serious diseases. Knowing the various causes of bleeding gums can help determine the right treatment if you experience it at any time.

What causes bleeding gums?

Healthy gums should be pink and have a dense texture with a smooth surface. Healthy gums also won't bleed easily if they are rubbed or pressed. However, gums, like teeth, are prone to problems if not properly maintained. The gums are prone to swelling and bleeding when they become inflamed.

Before that happens, the area around the affected gum will usually form pockets that separate the gums from the teeth. As the inflammation continues, the sacs will build up deeper and can lead to severe infection in the oral cavity. The risk of bleeding on the gums cannot be avoided.

In general, here are various causes of bleeding gums that you need to be aware of.

1. Brush your teeth rarely

If you are someone who is lazy or rarely brushes your teeth, this could be the cause of your gums bleeding frequently.

Not without reason, many experts emphasize everyone diligently to brush their teeth twice a day. The less often you brush your teeth, the more plaque covering the tooth surface will thicken and harden.

Plaque is tooth debris that contains a lot of bacteria. Plaque appears due to food debris left on the surface of the teeth or teeth cracks that are not cleaned properly. Well, plaque is what triggers inflammation of the gums and then causes your gums to bleed.

2. Brushing your teeth too hard

Brushing your teeth vigorously will not guarantee that your teeth will be shiny clean. Brushing your teeth too hard and hard can actually cause your gums to bleed.

As explained earlier, our gums are made up of thin soft tissue. Hard friction or impact can cause sore gums, which can lead to bleeding.

Therefore, brush your teeth lightly and slowly. Also pay attention to the brushing technique to make sure it is clean even if slowly. Avoid brushing your teeth in a back and forth motion like ironing clothes. Brush your teeth in a circular motion from top to bottom for 20 seconds on each side.

Don't forget to use a soft toothbrush. Coarse bristles can injure the gums, making them prone to bleeding gums. Also make sure that the width of the brush head you are using fits the width of your mouth.

3. Technique flossing incorrect

Cleaning your teeth just by brushing your teeth is not enough. You still need flossing , namely cleaning between teeth that are difficult to reach by bristles using dental floss.

However, there are still many people who are not aware of the technique flossing it's still not quite right. There are those who are too hastily or just too tight to pull the thread between the teeth. Way flossing the wrong one can cause sores and bleeding in your gums.

Therefore, make sure you apply the correct flossing technique. It's easy, insert the floss between the gums and teeth slowly. Do not pull the thread tight to fit into the gap. Then press and slide the thread slowly. After that, gently remove the thread.

Then rinse your mouth to rinse your cleaned teeth. Get used to it flossing every time you finish brushing your teeth.

4. Smoking habits

The smoking habit has been proven to damage the health of the body. Including dental and oral health. Center for Diseases Control and prevention (CDC) even said that active smokers can be twice as likely to develop gum disease (periodontitis) than people who do not smoke.

This risk arises because cigarettes contain toxins and harmful chemicals that can trigger the rampant growth of bad bacteria in the mouth. This makes it easier for you to catch infections, which can cause the gums to become inflamed, swollen, and eventually bleed.

Smoking also weakens the body's immune system to fight bad bacteria that cause infection. Ultimately, a weak immune system can make gum tissue that has been damaged so it is difficult to repair. So if one day the gum is injured it will be more prone to bleeding and swelling.

5. Lack of vitamins C and K

You brush your teeth diligently and flossing , also don't smoke, but still have gum problems? It could be the cause of bleeding gums that you experience because the body is deficient in vitamins C and K.

Vitamins C and K are two important vitamins to help maintain healthy teeth and mouth. But unfortunately, there are still many people who lack the intake of these two vitamins.

Vitamin C plays a role in increasing the body's immune system so that it will be stronger against the bacteria that cause gum infections. Your body also needs vitamin C to speed up the wound healing process. Meanwhile, vitamin K is needed by the body for the blood clotting process. Without adequate intake of vitamin K, it will be easier for you to bleed even from a small cut.

The intake of these two vitamins is actually easy to find in daily food. You can get vitamin C from citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, guava, papaya, kiwi, strawberries, pineapples, and mangoes. While green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, mustard greens, cabbage, cucumber, and lettuce contain vitamin K which is quite high.

Vitamin K is also found in nuts, meat, eggs, milk and dairy products such as cheese, yogurt and kefir.

6. Hormonal changes

Hormonal changes experienced by women during puberty, pregnancy, menstruation, and menopause can affect the condition of their gums and mouth as a whole.

This is mainly triggered by changes in the hormones estrogen and progesterone during this time which can increase blood flow throughout the body, including the gums. The flow of blood that gets heavier causes the gum tissue to become red, soft, and swollen, making it easier to bleed.

These hormonal changes then also change the body's response to toxins produced by plaque-causing bacteria. Well, because of this, women tend to experience gum disease more easily than men.

Especially in pregnant women, changes in their body hormones can also weaken their immune system so that they are more susceptible to gum infections. The Indonesian Dental Association (PDGI) reports that pregnant women are at a higher risk of experiencing gingivitis in the early trimester of pregnancy.

7. Gingivitis

Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) is a mouth problem that most often causes bleeding gums. This condition causes the gums to become inflamed and swollen so that they bleed easily. Sometimes, gingivitis can also cause intense pain and tenderness in the affected gum.

Gingivitis is caused by a buildup of plaque (a sticky layer containing bacteria) that covers the surface of the teeth. Plaque can appear if you are lazy to brush your teeth after eating.

Left continuously, plaque can harden and turn into tartar. Gradually, tartar can cause inflammation of the surrounding gum tissue, making it prone to bleeding.

Maintaining healthy teeth and mouth is the main key to preventing gingivitis. Choose a toothpaste that contains fluoride to help protect and maintain the strength of your teeth so they don't get damaged easily.

8. Periodontitis

Untreated gingivitis can progress to gum disease or periodontitis. In other words, periodontitis is an advanced disease of gingivitis.

Unfortunately, many people do not know they have this disease so their complaints are often ignored. Some people realize that they get periodontitis when their condition is too bad and they have serious complications.

Periodontitis is a serious infection that damages the soft tissue and bone that supports teeth. In addition to causing tooth loss or loss, periodontitis can also increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and various other serious health problems.

So before it's too late, be diligent about checking your teeth at the dentist. The dentist can immediately provide preventive or appropriate treatment measures if he finds a potential problem with your teeth and mouth.

8.HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

The cause of frequent bleeding gums can also occur because you are diagnosed with HIV. Experts say people living with HIV / AIDS are more at risk of developing oral and dental problems than other people.

Some of the oral problems most often experienced by PLWHA are bleeding gums, dry mouth, gingivitis, periodontitis, mouth sores, oral herpes, leukoplakia, and dental caries.

Apart from the nature of the disease itself which weakens the immune system, the effect of the treatment is the same. As a result, the body of PLWHA will find it more difficult to fight various kinds of infections. Including infections that cause dental and mouth problems. This can be exacerbated if PLWHA does not take good care of their teeth.

9. Diabetes

Gums that are often swollen and bleeding can be a sign that you have diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic disease that can affect the entire body, including the teeth and mouth.

If you have diabetes and blood sugar levels are often out of control, you will be more susceptible to gum disease than those who are able to control their blood sugar properly. Why is that?

High blood sugar levels can weaken the immune system to fight bacteria in the mouth. As a result, dental plaque will form more easily, which then causes the gums to become inflamed and infected.

In addition, diabetes can also worsen blood circulation. Especially if you also smoke. This poor blood circulation will inhibit the supply of fresh, oxygenated blood to the parts of the body that need it, including the gums. This makes it easier for you to get infections.

10. Blood clotting disorders

If you have a history of diseases related to blood clotting problems, you are more likely to experience bleeding gums. Leukemia (blood cancer), hemophilia, and thrombocytopenia are some blood clotting disorders that can cause your gums to bleed frequently.

These three diseases make it difficult for the body to control bleeding when you have an injury. A small cut may make you bleed badly.

Immediately to the dentist if the gums bleed frequently

As explained above, there are many things that can cause your gums to bleed. From the little things in our daily life that can actually be prevented, to signs of serious medical problems.

So, don't delay to check with the dentist if even after changing your habits your gums are still bleeding frequently.

Especially if you also experience a series of other symptoms that are not normal or unusual, such as:

• High fever that lasts several days.
• Intense and sharp pain even after taking pain medication.
• Bad sensation in the mouth due to feeling a swollen lump (abscess).
• Bad breath due to a foul-smelling discharge from the gums or mouth.
• Difficulty opening your mouth, making it difficult to bite, chew, and even speak.

The dentist will perform a series of tests to determine what causes your gums to bleed frequently. By knowing the cause, it will be easier for your doctor to determine the right treatment according to your condition.

Regular consultation with the dentist is the best way to check and care for your teeth so that they are always clean and healthy. Make it a habit to schedule consultation sessions at the dentist every 6 months, regardless of whether you feel any complaints or not.