Bleeding gums

You might be shocked one day to find some blood in your mouth and wonder what you should do. Here are the different causes to give you an idea about what could be going on.

First of all, can you isolate whether the blood is coming from your gums, your mouth, lips or tooth sockets?

If the blood comes from your gums after cleaning your teeth, it might signal some gum disease. Plaque building up on your teeth and gums causes gum disease. Early on, it is called gingivitis, which results in gum swelling and redness as well as bleeding. If the gum disease is not arrested, it results in loose teeth, bad breath, receding gums and tenderness on biting.

It is important to see us at your Epping Dentist if you think you may have gum disease to protect your teeth, gums, and overall health. Meanwhile, you can care for your gums by:

• Brushing your teeth after every meal for at least two minutes – using a soft toothbrush if your gums are sore.
• Flossing your teeth every day.
• Using an antibacterial mouthwash after talking with us as medical mouthwashes can sometimes cause side effects.

If the blood comes from your mouth, it could be coming from cracked lips, which can be helped with lip balm, or a mouth ulcer, which should heal itself in a few days. If a mouth ulcer lasts more than a fortnight, it would be good to see your GP about it.

If the blood is coming from a dental injury from a fall or a blow to your face or after a dental procedure, doing the following is a good idea until you can see your Epping Dentist:

• Slightly dampen some gauze or a pad of clean cloth in clean water and apply pressure over the area. Keep it in place for 30 minutes before checking if the bleeding has stopped. If not, repeat the process. Keep the pad in place until we can see you.
• Do not rinse your mouth or put your fingers in it.
• You can take some pain relief medicine if you are in pain.
• Avoid strenuous activity, hot drinks, and hard food. Something cold like yoghurt may be easier to eat and provide pain relief.
• If you smoke, try resisting, as it will irritate the wound.

After a dental procedure, please follow our advice carefully about rinsing your mouth, eating, and drinking.

Your Epping Dentist will happily see you for follow-up advice if you still feel uncomfortable about any mouth bleeding!

To find out more, please click the link for an appointment with us:

https://rawsondental.com.au/book-now/