Health Guide©

BLEEDING GUMS

Healthy gums do not bleed spontaneously when you brush your teeth. Gums that easily bleed may imply certain disorder.

Causes

• Bacteria/dental plaque build-up in the space between gum and teeth.
• Gum disease. (Inflamed/infected gums bleed easily because there is more blood in the vicinity bringing defense cells to fight off the bacteria.
• Injury due to a toothbrush with hard/splayed bristles or careless tooth brushing / flossing.
• Vitamin C deficiency.
• Dengue hemorrhagic fever.

What you can do

• Go to the emergency department of the nearest hospital if you have fever, flu-like symptoms, abdominal pain, nose bleeds, vomiting of blood, blood in the stool or any bleeding elsewhere.
• See your dentist if your gums are red, itchy swollen and spongy (i.e., symptoms of bleeding disorders.).

Prevention Tips:

• Use a toothbrush with soft bristles, change to a new toothbrush as soon as the bristles splay.
• Brush/floss your teeth properly, taking care to clean the gum margins well.
• Go for dental check-ups twice a year.
• Take adequate vitamin C in your diet. Foods with vitamin C include papaya, guava, lemons, limes, watermelons, mangoes, oranges, grapefruits, and leafy green vegetables.