Gums bleed when brushing teeth

Bleeding gums and other symptoms

Bleeding should already be considered the main symptom of gum disease, but this phenomenon is also often accompanied by such manifestations as:

bright red gums and swelling
pain when eating and when touched
specific smell and altered taste
plaque at the edge of the gums
high concentration of saliva

Any of these symptoms are a good reason to visit your doctor's office. You should also remember: bleeding gums often develop against the background of poor oral hygiene and reduced immunity. Read more about this in a separate article.

Fact #1: 70% of all cases involve gingivitis

Do your gums bleed during pregnancy? In 70% of all clinical cases in pregnant women (and this is only when they consult a doctor, and how many more are those who do not seek help), dentists diagnose a disease such as gingivitis. It is accompanied by superficial inflammation of the gums, their swelling, redness, sensitivity to any mechanical stress and bleeding of the mucous membrane under mechanical stress and pressure (during eating or brushing).

Most often, this symptom is a sign of gingivitis.

The disease occurs regardless of age or social status. Most often it begins to develop in the first trimester of pregnancy, closer to 8-10 weeks. The course of the disease in the absence of treatment is rapid. In the second and third trimesters, as a rule, doctors are already dealing with complications of an untreated disease, which we will definitely talk about later.

Why do my gums bleed when brushing my teeth?

Hormonal background

Hormonal changes (mostly affecting pregnant women and teenagers) are one of the many causes of bleeding gums. Dentists note: hormonal changes in the body are accompanied by changes in the chemical composition of saliva, which leads to rapid mineralization of plaque on the teeth.

Lack of vitamins

A deficiency of vitamins C or K also causes blood to appear on the gums. An insufficient amount of vitamin C (especially during seasonal vitamin deficiency, a decrease in general immunity) leads to rapid wear of blood vessels and bleeding gums, and the lack of vitamin K, responsible for blood clotting, depletes the gums and makes them extremely sensitive and loose.

Microflora

Bacteria inhabiting the oral cavity are responsible for the accumulation of dental plaque, which can, over time, with poor hygiene, become tartar, causing inflammation and bleeding.

Changes in the composition of saliva in the body against the background of periodontitis and gingivitis directly affect both the respiratory tract and the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Gingivitis in pregnant women: impact on the fetus

As noted above, hormonal changes and toxicosis contribute to impaired blood supply to the gums and hypertrophic enlargement of the gingival papillae. But the actual phenomena of inflammation in the gums develop due to insufficient hygiene (against the background of changes in diet) - as a result of which soft microbial plaque accumulates at the necks of the teeth.

If gingivitis occurs in pregnant women, the effect on the fetus will be minimal, because gingivitis is only a superficial form of gum inflammation (although it is clear that some small part of bacterial toxins and inflammatory mediators will still enter the blood of a pregnant woman). And in this case, hypertrophic gingivitis in pregnant women is more of an aesthetic problem. But a completely different situation is when untreated gingivitis transforms into periodontitis, in which periodontal pockets appear between the roots of the teeth and the gums.

In periodontal pockets there is always an aggressive pathogenic microflora that destroys the bone tissue around the teeth and maintains a pronounced inflammatory reaction deep in the gums. In inflamed tissues during periodontitis, a large amount of 1) inflammatory cytokines, 2) prostaglandins “PGE-2”, 3) interleukins “IL-6” and “IL-8” are produced. All these inflammatory markers have an extremely negative effect on the course of pregnancy, but in addition they increase the risk of premature birth by 6-7 times.

With periodontitis, increased levels of all of the above inflammatory markers are found in a pregnant woman not only in her blood, but even in the amniotic fluid (in which the fetus is located). Clinical studies have shown that the risk of premature birth in pregnant women with periodontitis is associated with two factors. Firstly, it is associated with the release of PGE-2, which restricts placental blood flow, causing gradual necrosis of the placenta and restriction of intrauterine growth.

Secondly, this is due to cytokines, the production of which promotes contraction of the uterus and dilation of the cervical canal. All this data is taken from clinical studies - 1) Dyortbudak O., Eberhardt R. et al. “Periodontitis - a marker of the risk of premature birth during pregnancy”, 2) Goepfert A.R., Jeffko M.K. et al. “The relationship of periodontal diseases with inflammation of the upper genital tract and early premature birth.”

Causes of gum bleeding when brushing teeth

Why do my gums bleed when brushing my teeth? The causes of bleeding gums can be different, and one of them is mechanical damage. The simplest thing is inept or hasty handling of a toothbrush. The situation can be the most everyday: you are late for work, you decide to reduce the usual time for brushing your teeth, you start aggressively pressing the brush on your teeth - and here is the result: the gum tissue is damaged and bleeding. It's unpleasant, but not fatal. Another reason from the same series is an incorrectly chosen toothbrush: your teeth and gums are sensitive, periodically react sharply to hot or cold, and instead of a brush with soft or medium bristles, you chose one with hard ones. The result: severe bleeding, pain, inflammation and even slight detachment of the gum from the tooth. Therefore, it is important to choose the right brush.

Safe treatment of gingivitis in pregnant women

The dentist is included in the list of mandatory specialists to visit during pregnancy. He will be able to detect the disease in time and prescribe safe treatment for gingivitis. The peculiarities of therapy for pregnant women are that measures aimed at eliminating gingivitis include only the removal of tartar and plaque, anti-inflammatory therapy and the prevention of re-development of inflammation, that is, therapeutic measures only imply relief of symptoms.

The first stage of treatment that the dentist will perform will be professional teeth cleaning. Dental plaque will be removed mechanically using Air Flow or ultrasound. The idea that ultrasound, which is used in this procedure, harms the fetus is absolutely groundless: throughout pregnancy, a woman undergoes scheduled ultrasound examinations at least three times. As an anti-inflammatory therapy, the doctor will select drugs that can act as gently as possible on the vulnerable body of a pregnant woman. Their use comes down to a local effect on the gum tissue: rinsing, baths, irrigation.

What to do if your gums constantly bleed?

The chronic nature of bleeding gums is an alarm bell for any person. How to treat and what to do in such a situation? Some important tips for preventing and treating bleeding gums.

Choose the right toothbrush, floss and toothpaste. The toothbrush and floss should not be hard, and the toothpaste should not contain abrasive particles.
Switch to balanced foods. Lack of vitamins (for example, group B, as well as C, K, B, A and E) and minerals (for example, zinc, calcium) destroys teeth and depletes gums. Eat more solid vegetables, meat, dairy products, citrus fruits and nuts.
Visit your dentist. Timely professional teeth cleaning by a specialist will help prevent the development of gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis.
Avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol. Although alcohol-containing rinses kill most bacteria, they dry out the gums excessively, which only aggravates the course of oral diseases due to bleeding gums.
Give up bad habits. Smoking and alcohol irritate the mucous membrane in the mouth and worsen gum disease.

Prevention

Most often, bleeding gums can be avoided by following fairly simple to follow recommendations, which you can find below:

Use a soft toothbrush, do not injure your gums while brushing.
Get rid of bad habits, reduce your coffee consumption.
Balanced diet and vitamin intake. Eat raw vegetables and fruits, they help get rid of plaque and are rich in vitamins.
Regular oral hygiene. Use dental floss and mouthwash after every meal. Brush your teeth 2 times a day. Get examined by a dentist at least 2 times a year, unless there are any pathologies.
Select your toothpaste together with your dentist. There are a large number of pastes with a therapeutic, healing effect. And do not use one paste for more than 4 months.

Bleeding when brushing teeth in pregnant women

Reduced immunity

Bleeding gums in expectant mothers often occur when hormonal levels change. This leads to an inevitable decline in immunity (both general and local - in the oral cavity) and an imbalance in the acid-base balance, which provokes the growth of bacteria and accelerates the accumulation of plaque. All together causes inflammation, pain when brushing teeth and bleeding.

Poor hygiene

During pregnancy, gums bleed when brushing your teeth, also due to poor oral hygiene, or even lack thereof, as a result of which harmful bacteria multiply on the gums, contributing to the formation of plaque on the teeth. Hence inflammation, redness, pain - and, as a result, gingivitis, which over time can develop into a much more serious form - periodontitis.

Lack of calcium

Pregnancy is a huge burden on the female body. Calcium deficiency in an organism experiencing severe stress leads to the development of gingivitis, therefore, in the treatment of bleeding gums during pregnancy, an integrated approach is important: proper nutrition, vitamins and healthy sleep.

Important!

Choose the right brush and don’t forget that you need to change it every 3 months. Remember: a toothbrush is a purely individual thing, no one but you should use it. Also rinse the brush thoroughly after each use.

Treatment of bleeding gums

If you notice any of the above symptoms, make an appointment with your dentist. The doctor will first check how you practice oral hygiene, whether you have any bad habits and how you eat. Smoking is extremely harmful to teeth: tobacco smoke destroys the protective film on the periodontium, which allows bacteria to freely penetrate and destroy the gums. Insufficient or improper hygiene can also cause damage to the periodontium. For example, if you use a brush that is too hard or press hard on it while brushing your teeth.

Treatment for bleeding gums begins with correcting hygiene. The dentist will select the right toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash for you. Prevention of gingivitis and periodontal disease will help eradicate the problem at the initial stage and prevent it from developing. As a rule, when your gums bleed, you need to abandon whitening pastes in favor of special ones for sensitive teeth; the bristles of the brush should be soft.

The next stage of gum treatment will be ultrasonic teeth cleaning to get rid of plaque and hard deposits. The doctor will also examine foci of infection and eliminate caries, if any. If a tooth bleeds due to a filling or crown, sharpening is performed.

To relieve inflammation of the gums, the doctor will prescribe rinses and gels. Most often, chlorhexidine solution is prescribed for rinsing, which is sold in any pharmacy. If the inflammatory process is accompanied by the release of pus, antibiotics are added to the course of therapy.

In advanced cases of periodontal disease, treatment of bleeding gums is carried out by a periodontist. He heals the resulting pockets around the tooth or performs extraction and subsequent implantation, depending on the specific case. Pockets wider than 4 mm are almost impossible to seal, so in some situations it is better to remove a loose tooth and insert an implant. You can make an appointment with a periodontist in Krasnoyarsk at the Apex dental clinic.

How to stop bleeding?

Bleeding slows down the gum healing process and increases the likelihood of infection by creating an open wound. It is recommended to stop bleeding using special preparations in the form of dental gels ( Solcoseryl, Dental, Metrogyl Denta ) or a regular cotton swab with hydrogen peroxide.

Bleeding gums are quite common, but not every person immediately detects this problem. With mild bleeding, the blood mixes with the toothpaste and becomes unnoticeable, and the only symptom that can bother you is a feeling of discomfort. In advanced stages, blood appears not only after brushing your teeth, but also after eating solid food. If you experience any unpleasant sensations, you should not postpone visiting the dentist, as the disease may progress.

How to treat bleeding gums

Attention! Taking vitamins C and P, which are found in many berries and fruits, will help increase the strength of blood vessels.

Types of gingivitis in pregnant women

Taking into account the dominant symptoms, the disease is classified into three types:

Catarrhal. There is abundant deposition of a yellowish coating. It can be easily removed from dental crowns. The gums swell and hurt. Blood comes out of them infrequently. If you press on the tissue, severe discomfort will occur. With catarrhal disease, the entire gingival surface is inflamed.
Hypertrophic. It appears no earlier than the twentieth obstetric week. Inflammatory reactions affect the lower jaw, tissues in the growth zone of incisors and molars. Gum pockets form. They are depressions located at the border of the gum and tooth root. The first one becomes inflamed, causing its size to increase.
Ulcerative. The most dangerous type of disease. It is the result of severe health problems. May occur starting in the first trimester. The situation is aggravated if the pregnant woman is under stress for a long time. The woman suffers from itching, burning, swelling, and extensive ulcers.

Fact #6: Bleeding gums during pregnancy must be treated

This must be done - re-read fact No. 5 about the consequences for the mother and the baby.

Let's figure it out, if there is bleeding gums during pregnancy, how should it be treated?

1 step. Contact your dentist

If you have been diagnosed with inflammation of periodontal tissue, then the ideal option is for the treatment to be carried out by a highly specialized specialist - a periodontist (but this doctor is not available in all clinics). However, if the disease is not advanced and is at a mild stage, then a dental hygienist will handle the task.

When the first symptoms appear, you should definitely consult a specialist

Step 2. Get professional oral hygiene

About how it goes – details in a specially prepared article on the website.

In fact, professional oral hygiene is the only safe way for pregnant women to normalize the condition of the mucous membrane. However, if the disease has already passed the initial stages and has passed, for example, to the hypertrophic stage or is complicated by periodontitis, then the doctor may additionally prescribe you injections and medications, antibiotics. But here everything is purely individual, depending on the condition of the mother, on the risk-benefit ratio, on the trimester of pregnancy (the second is considered the safest).

As a rule, surgical interventions, as well as the use of antibiotics to treat severe stages of gum inflammation, are advisable only after the birth of the baby and the end of breastfeeding.

It is important to remember that any therapeutic measures must begin with professional hygiene. If you do not remove plaque and stone that provoke inflammation, other methods will simply be useless.

Step 3. Maintain good oral hygiene at home

Be sure to carry out aseptic treatment of the gums using herbal decoctions based on chamomile, oak bark or sage. Use toothpastes and rinses that will relieve signs of gum inflammation and help eliminate pathogenic microflora on a daily basis. After each meal, rinse your mouth and remove any remaining food using an irrigator or dental floss.

Oral hygiene should be strengthened

“Paradontax paste helped me the best, only after using it my gums felt significantly better, although it tasted specific, salty, and at first it even caused a slight gag reflex. But surprisingly, after using it, the swelling and redness of the mucous membrane went away, and most importantly, sensitivity decreased. True, the doctor cleaned me before this.”
Marina, review from the forum deti.mail.ru

Step 4 Change your diet

In order for the damaged mucous membrane to recover faster, and also to increase its resistance to bacterial attack, it is necessary to enrich the diet with foods containing vitamin C. It is found in berries, rosehip decoction, citrus fruits, and ascorbic acid. However, after eating such products, do not forget to brush your teeth so that natural acids do not destroy the enamel.

Be sure to eat foods that contain calcium so that some of the vitamins remain for you, otherwise everything will go only to the baby, and your teeth can literally crumble in a few months. The opinion that milk and cottage cheese contain the most calcium is erroneous. As some independent researchers say, to get your daily calcium intake from these foods you need to eat either 1 kg. cottage cheese, or drink 1.5 liters of milk. Are you capable of this? If not, then add hard cheeses, figs, persimmons and almonds to your diet in addition to fermented milk products.

Be sure to eat foods that contain calcium

Step 5 Consult your gynecologist

It is important to understand that gingivitis during pregnancy occurs precisely as a consequence of hormonal changes. And the actions of a dentist alone may not be enough. Consult with your gynecologist, tell us about problems with your gums - perhaps your levels of certain hormones have not just changed, but there are also pathologies of this system that require control, including medication.

But in any case, the most important thing you need to do is to carefully, efficiently and regularly care for your oral cavity throughout the entire period of pregnancy. Remember that losing all your teeth after childbirth is, unfortunately, not uncommon. And it depends only on you whether you will be able to avoid this fate.

Tell us in the comments what your dental situation is like after pregnancy? Have you encountered gingivitis and were you able to overcome this disease? We are sure that your useful tips will be useful to many women who are carrying a baby.

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Dubrovskaya M.V., Eremin O.V., Savina E.A., Ivashchenko Yu.Yu., Minasyan AM Risk factors in the formation of periodontal diseases in pregnant women. Saratov scientific and medical journal, 2013.

Expert “Regardless of when gums bleed : during pregnancy or outside this wonderful period, the very first and most effective step is to carry out professional oral hygiene in the dentist’s office using an Air Flow device and ultrasound. Using professional equipment, the doctor will remove bacterial plaque, hard and soft deposits. The procedure is approved for pregnant women, because it will not harm the fetus, and will help expectant mothers regain the health of their teeth and gums. But professional hygiene is only the first step on the path to cure.” Dentist-therapist Elena Vladimirovna Orlova

Consulting specialist

Orlova Elena Vladimirovna

Doctor rating: 9.5 out of 10 (2) Specialization: Dentist-therapist Experience: 33 years

It hurts to brush your teeth - what could this mean?

Normally, healthy teeth do not hurt when brushing, and in general the oral care procedure does not cause discomfort. If pain does occur, you should definitely consult a doctor to determine the cause.

Why does pain occur?

Caries, pulpitis and other dental diseases.

If you have untreated teeth in your mouth, they are likely to bother you when brushing. The closer the lesion is to the dental nerve, the more acute the pain. The only way to help in this case is to urgently consult a dentist and treat the aching tooth.

Injury.

After a fall or impact, tooth enamel may be chipped and the crown portion may be damaged. Depending on the extent of the damage, pain may be constant or occur only upon contact with the tooth - for example, when brushing with a toothbrush. After any injury where teeth may have been damaged, a visit to the dentist is mandatory. If treatment is not started in time, a serious inflammatory process may develop.

Exposing the neck of the tooth.

The neck is the area of the tooth where the crown portion meets the root. Normally, it is hidden under the gum. With inflammatory diseases of the gums, the neck is exposed, and any touch to the dentin in this area causes acute pain.

Periodontitis.

With this disease, the gums and other tissues that support the tooth become inflamed. The disease is accompanied by ongoing pain, which usually intensifies when touched.

These are just a few of the reasons that can cause tooth pain when brushing. All of them are pathological and require professional dental treatment. In most cases, after proper therapy, the pain stops and brushing your teeth ceases to cause any discomfort.

Fact #4: If gingivitis is not treated, periodontitis will develop.

If your gums bleed during pregnancy, you should be especially careful about this phenomenon and consult a doctor. After all, one of the complications of untreated gingivitis is periodontitis. This is a disease that is characterized not only by superficial inflammation of the gums, but also by the fact that it affects the deeper layers of hard tissue, reaching the ligamentous apparatus of the tooth. It also gradually destroys bone tissue, causing the gradual loss of all teeth.

In rare cases, women expecting a baby may develop periodontal disease. This is a systemic disease, but, unlike periodontitis and gingivitis, it does not cause bleeding gums.

Read the article on the topic: 5 differences between gingivitis and periodontitis and periodontal disease.

If left untreated, gingivitis can develop into periodontitis and lead to tooth loss