Easy tips for preventing gum disease

You spit out some blood after brushing? You have bleeding gums, which are a sign of gum disease. You won’t want to postpone getting this problem seen to.

Bleeding gums in adults is relatively common, but that doesn’t make it harmless. In fact, it is an early sign of gum disease. Thankfully, gingivitis can often be prevented, treated and reversed, if it is detected early and taken into hand.

Bleeding gums are usually caused by an accumulation of plaque that has hardened into tartar. Tartar deposits on the teeth and along the gum line have to be removed by a dental hygienist with special scaling tools. If you don’t get rid of plaque daily, by brushing after every meal and flossing once a day, it hardens and transforms into this stubborn material that is the enemy of a healthy mouth.

Sometimes the gums are so severely deteriorated that your dentist will refer you to a periodontist, who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease. But with an early diagnosis, gingivitis can be treated and reversed. After a diagnosis, a few critical steps will most likely be recommended.

• You will need to have a deep cleaning, performed by a dental hygienist, to remove the accumulation of tartar from under the gum line.
• You will be told to brush thoroughly once or twice a day to remove plaque, with toothpaste and antibacterial mouthwash.
• You will receive instructions on how to floss your teeth, which must be done at least once a day, to remove plaque.

If your gums bleed, especially when you brush or floss, it is highly recommended that you consult a dentist and continue to monitor your own gums regularly in order to detect any signs or symptoms of gum disease. Check for the following symptoms:

• a change in the colour of the gums, or reddish-coloured gums at the gum line
• puffy or painful gums
• persistent bad breath
• a metallic taste in the mouth
• tooth sensitivity for no apparent reason

• Gingivitis. A chronic inflammation of the gums, generally caused by a bacterial infection, which can lead to tooth loss.
• Periodontitis. An advanced gum disease that occurs in the later stages of the infection and manifests as progressively receding gums that gradually reveal the roots of the teeth.

If you don’t bother to get your bleeding gums treated, you risk ending up with painful red and swollen gums that could cause an abscess or worse still, loss of teeth. That is why it is so important to make regular appointments at your dental clinic and take good care of your teeth and gums every day.