3 Surprising Reasons Why Your Gums Can Bleed
Noticing that your gums are bleeding can be alarming, and it can often be the first signal that you have gingivitis. However, gum disease isn't the only cause of bleeding gums. While it's a good idea to visit your dentist for a checkup if you're having bleeding gums, take a look at these three other reasons why gums can give people trouble.
Menstruation
Many women may notice a correlation between when they have their period and when their gums bleed. It's not in their heads—the hormones that are released in the bloodstream during the menstruation cycle make the gums more likely to bleed.
This is the same mechanicism that allows a woman to have her period. Tissues become more sensitive, and capillaries in the gums can open, resulting in bleeding if they come in contact with any pressure, like brushing one's teeth.
Excess Pressure
You may have heard it before, but it's important to brush your teeth lightly. Excessive pressure can not only damage your teeth, but it can also irritate and harm your gums.
When you press too hard on the gums, it can cause bleeding. The gums are very sensitive and need a delicate touch. To make matters worse, if your gums are bleeding because you brush too hard, it's most likely only a matter of time before your brushing causes gum recession. Without professional help from a dentist, this process could continue until the delicate pulp of your teeth is exposed, which opens you up to an entirely new realm of dental problems, like tooth loss and infections.
Stress
Lastly, stress has a big role to play in making gums bleed. When you're stressed out, inflammation rises in the body. This inflammation pops up everywhere—it can make your shoulders stiff, or old injuries hurt, and it can make your gums puff up and become more sensitive. In severe stress, your gums can bleed all on their own, or even simply eating can cause the bleeding to start. However, it's very important to avoid excess pressure while brushing if you're stressed, because it will make matters even worse and make your gums bleed even more.
Having bleeding gums is usually a warning sign that there's something wrong, so you should visit a dentist if you're having this problem. Your dentist can help you to determine why your gums are bleeding and if there's something you can do to make it stop.
For more information, talk to dentists like Dr. Jon Douglas Lesan, DDS, RpH, PA.
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