So you brush and floss and occasionally spit out some blood. That’s normal because it doesn’t cause any pain, isn’t it?

Actually, it’s not normal!

Your gums should function the same way your skin functions: they are barriers for bacteria getting into your blood stream and causing problems. The total surface area of your gums is roughly the size of the back of your hand- that’s a pretty big size! Imagine if you had anywhere on your body the size of the back of your hand that could bleed occasionally if you scrubbed it with a toothbrush or bump it with a piece of floss… what would you think? You’d probably call urgent care to get it checked out right away. Your gums really are the same when they bleed easily. It’s easy to think “oh, my gums are bleeding but it doesn’t hurt and most people have bleeding gums.”

The reality is, bleeding gums are places where more aggressive types of bacteria thrive, and those more aggressive bacteria are getting into your blood stream, able to cause all sorts of problems.

More aggressive bacteria that thrive in bleeding gum areas are linked worsening and/or susceptibility to MAJOR poor health outcomes. Think:

Diabetes (1 in 5 people with gum disease will have type 2 diabetes and not even know it! 10)

Heart Disease

Respiratory Disease

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Poor pregnancy outcomes

Cancer (30-50% increased risk for certain types of cancer! 9)

Alzheimer’s Disease

So, what should you do if your gums bleed occasionally, or even a lot? What should you do if you want to make sure you don’t lose your teeth or if you want to avoid any major negative health issues?

The easiest, cheapest step is to work on your home care: brush twice per day with a soft toothbrush, floss every tooth daily, avoid mouth rinses (except for products like Stella Life), and use oral probiotics. You can also make sure your mouth is staying hydrated with lots of plain water intake and avoiding mouth breathing. The next step is to get in to see your dentist for a full check-up. Make sure you receive a full evaluation of your gum health.

Give us a call if you have questions or would like to schedule an evaluation!