How to Get My Gums to Stop Bleeding
Bleeding gum tissue is a common experience for most adult patients at some point and it can resolve on its own if there is no underlying condition causing the bleeding. Bleeding that lasts more than a couple of weeks or that is severe should be addressed by your dentist as soon as possible. Gum disease often presents as bleeding, puffy gums in its early stages while it can be treated easily.
Causes of Bleeding Gums
The number one reason that a patient may have bleeding gums is gum disease though there are other factors that may come into play including poor oral hygiene practices or underlying medical conditions. The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis which, left untreated, can progress into a more advanced form called periodontitis.
Brushing and flossing removes the plaque that builds up throughout the day and if it is not regularly removed, plaque can accumulate in the gum pockets and harden into tartar. Tartar cannot be removed by brushing or flossing, only by a dental hygienist during a professional cleaning. When tartar accumulates in the gum pockets, the bacterial infection can cause the gum tissue to recede from the tooth root, causing tooth sensitivity and eventually, bone and/or tooth loss.
How to Stop Bleeding Gums
There are a few things you can try at home to soothe and treat bleeding gums. If your bleeding is severe or does not subside within a couple of weeks, it is important that you visit your dentist for an exam and hopefully a diagnosis as to what is causing your gums to bleed.
Oral hygiene
Practicing good oral hygiene is the best way to prevent gum disease and bleeding gums. Gingivitis can often be corrected and its negative effects reversed with a deep cleaning by your dental office, accompanied by improved oral hygiene. Overtime, plaque that has built up along the gum line and in the gum pockets will calcify into tartar without regular removal. When plaque and bacteria are not regularly removed with brushing and flossing, dental decay can begin to eat away at tooth structure and the gum tissue can start to recede from the tooth surface.
Mouthwash and/or Saltwater
Mouthwashes containing hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine can be used as a disinfectant and are both effective in plaque removal. They also promote gum health and can even stop gum bleeding! If your gums are bleeding, rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide after brushing.
Because bacteria and inflammation in the mouth causes gum disease, regularly rinsing your mouth with a mixture of warm salt water may also reduce bacteria and stop gum bleeding. Add half a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth for a few seconds three to four times a day. If bleeding is from an injury or trauma, rinsing with a salt water mixture also keeps your mouth clean and removes bacteria that could cause a wound infection.
Cold Compress
Bleeding gums are not always a result of gum disease. Your gums can bleed from trauma or injury to the tooth and surrounding gum tissue. A cold compress applied to the affected area can reduce swelling and restrict blood flow to stop bleeding. Clean, damp gauze can also be used to apply pressure to the area to help stop the blood flow.