{"id":57191,"date":"2020-05-18T08:48:38","date_gmt":"2020-05-18T07:48:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/growingsmiles.co.uk\/?p=57191"},"modified":"2021-04-26T15:12:49","modified_gmt":"2021-04-26T14:12:49","slug":"bleeding-gums-no-dentist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/growingsmiles.co.uk\/bleeding-gums-no-dentist\/","title":{"rendered":"Bleeding gums – no dentist!"},"content":{"rendered":"

The majority of us experience bleeding gums at some point during our adult lives. We usually notice blood in the sink when we are brushing our teeth or doing our interdental cleaning. Bleeding gums can be alarming and may be a sign of gingivitis \u2013 which is reversible, but it may be a sign of a more serious problem \u2013 periodontitis, which can result in tooth loss and impact your general health and wellbeing.  Blood in the sink or saliva can make us avoid brushing or cleaning between our teeth \u2013 the exact opposite of what you should do!<\/p>

Bleeding gums, although common, are NOT a sign of a healthy mouth and if you are experiencing this you must take action to get them back to health. Usually your first stop would be your dentist, but with dental practices likely to be closed to non-emergencies for some time just yet, what do you do when you realise you have bleeding gums?<\/p>

First, let\u2019s understand why you have bleeding gums. Periodontal (gum) disease is caused when bacteria in plaque biofilm (a sticky, colourless gel like film that forms in the mouth) builds up between the teeth and gums. When the bacteria begin to grow, the gums surrounding the tooth can become inflamed. If this inflammation is ignored it can cause the gums and the bone that holds teeth in your jaw to breakdown.<\/p>

Below is Growing Smiles\u2019 advice for dealing with bleeding gums<\/u><\/strong> when your dental team are unavailable:<\/p>