What Does It Mean When Your Gums Bleed After Brushing

Written By Anica Oaks / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

Brushing your teeth. It's an activity that's a part of most people's daily routine. However, when you notice blood in the sink after you brush your teeth, it can make this normal activity seem anything but routine.

When your gums bleed, it's important to understand the possible causes behind this problem so that you can properly take care of your oral health. To ensure you don't overlook a serious condition, here are a few reasons why your gums might be bleeding.

Bad Brushing Habits

Sometimes, too much of a good thing can turn into a bad thing. If you're pressing too hard while you brush, the excessive pressure from the bristles could cause your gums to bleed. Proper brushing involves allowing the bristles to do most of the work, trusting that the scrubbing action without any pressure, will be enough to remove contaminants from your teeth.

Finally Flossing

If you've recently changed your flossing habits for the better, this could be why your gums are bleeding. When you take a break from flossing, your gums tend to become more sensitive. Then, when you return to flossing regularly, the floss can more easily nick your sensitive gums, leading to bleeding.

Just as with brushing, it's important to be very careful with pressure so that you don't cause permanent damage to your gums.

Gingivitis

By far, the most common cause of bleeding gums is gingivitis. If you don't remove all of the plaque from your teeth every day, that plaque will turn to tartar, and the tartar can cause gingivitis. Red and puffy gums are the most common symptoms of gingivitis, along with gum bleeding while brushing.

To help prevent more serious damage, it's a good idea to visit your dentist if you notice symptoms of gingivitis so that you can have your teeth properly cleaned.

Consider Your Diet

Whether or not you have gingivitis, your diet could be contributing to your bleeding gums. If you eat a lot of acidic foods, for example, this can lead to gum sensitivity and random bleeding.

Crunchy foods, such as chips and crackers, can put small scratches on your gums while you are chewing them and ultimately lead to bleeding and other issues. By eating healthy and wholesome foods, you can improve your oral health while also improving the health of the rest of your body.

Don't Wait To Seek Treatment

In most cases, minor gum bleeding will resolve itself after a day or two. If you notice bleeding for longer than this, you'll want to see your dentist as soon as you can. Amazing Smile Inc. Dr. Brad Kline, DMD, for example, can measure your gums and evaluate what kind of treatment is needed to resolve any issues.

While it may not be anything significant, early treatment is vital if the cause of your gum bleeding is something more serious. Either way, regular visits to your dentist are a good way to take care of yourself.

Looking for a 100% all-natural liquid tooth oil and mouth rinse? Check out OraMD Original Strength and OraMD Extra Strength. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:
Anica Oaks is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor related. You can connect with Anica on Twitter @AnicaOaks.

Reviewed By:    

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.