Join over 6500+ people who have beaten Gum Disease using this method at home without expensive, rushed and ineffective dental visits. Your Gum Disease: Solved.
If you notice blood when you brush your teeth or take a bite out of an apple it can be a little worrying.
Most adults will experience mild cases of bleeding gums at some point.
In the majority of cases, bleeding gums are caused by gum disease which is usually the result of poor oral hygiene. Poor diet, smoking and diabetes can also make you more susceptible to gum disease.
Don’t worry though as you can stop gums from bleeding naturally by developing and maintaining an oral hygiene routine which is first class.
This post will explain the causes of bleeding gums and how you can stop your gums from bleeding naturally at home.
The Major Cause of Bleeding Gums is Periodontal Diseases
In the majority of cases, bleeding gums are caused by poor oral hygiene that results in a build-up of bacteria that leads to a group of inflammatory conditions called periodontal or gum diseases which include gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis Can Be Cured
Bacteria accumulate on the teeth all day and when it isn’t removed daily it accumulates into a buildup of plaque along the gum line. If the plaque is allowed to accumulate the bacteria damage the gums by releasing enzymes that irritate the gums and our immune system initiates an inflammatory response that causes inflammation.
The gums become red, inflamed and swollen. They may bleed when you brush or clean the interdental spaces (between the teeth).
At this stage, it is only the gum tissue which is affected and it is completely reversible.
Periodontitis Can Be Prevented
However, if gingivitis isn’t treated with good oral hygiene it can lead to periodontitis. There is bleeding and the gums begin to pull away from the teeth creating pockets. The bacteria begin to damage and destroy the bone and other supporting tooth structures which can eventually lead to wobbly loose teeth that are at risk of falling out.
Natural Methods To Stop Bleeding Gums
The best way to stop bleeding gums caused by periodontal diseases is to remove and control the build-up of harmful bacteria in the mouth. The best way to do this naturally is with toothbrushes and careful interdental cleaning. In other words, excellent Daily Self-Performed Care.
Ensuring you have first-class oral hygiene removes plaque from the teeth so the bacteria can’t irritate your gums or activate the cells of your immune system that damage the gums and destroy the bone.
The Best Natural Method Available – Perfect Your Oral Hygiene
To prevent your gums from bleeding:
- Use a Gum Pocket Brush to remove plaque at the gum line and beneath your gums.
- Brush your teeth and the gum line for 2 minutes twice a day
- Use fluoride toothpaste along with a soft or medium toothbrush that has a small head. You can use a manual and an electric toothbrush.
- Improving your brushing technique will ensure you keep your gums clean in the most effective way
- Spit toothpaste out but don’t rinse the residue away with water or mouthwash unless advised by your dentist
- Use interdental brushes, a single tufted brush and/or floss to clean between the teeth and under the gum line each day
Knowledge is power where beating gum disease is concerned. Gum Disease: Solved online education tool arms you with the information to understand why you have gum disease and how you can beat it in only 10 minutes per day at home, without the need for costly and ineffective dental visits.
Mouthwash
Only use mouthwash if directed by a dental professional. Listerine and other mouthwash manufacturers have data that demonstrate that they help prevent gum disease, leading healthcare organisations such as UK NICE (1) do not recommend that they are used routinely. Mouthwash is an adjunct and should only be used after you have mastered mechanical brushing techniques.
Natural Remedies to Stop Bleeding Gums
As we’ve stated the only way to stop gums from bleeding is by removing the bacteria with good oral hygiene, however, there are many online sites you may come across that make claims of natural remedies that will stop your gums from bleeding.
These natural remedies generally do not have medical research backing their use but claim to work in combination with good oral hygiene to make the mouth less hospitable to bacteria and prevent its accumulation, but they should not be used instead of Daily Self-Performed Care.
Some suggested natural remedies in the press are salt washes, natural mouthwashes, turmeric paste, oil pulling and hydrogen peroxide.
Make The Mouth Less Hospitable to Harmful Bacteria
Smoking, excessive caffeine intake, diets rich in sugar and refined carbohydrates, alcohol and poor diets can make you more susceptible to gum disease. Stopping smoking, eating healthily and reducing your intake of sugary snacks or drinks and alcohol can help prevent gum disease and stop bleeding gums.
Can Bleeding Gums Be Stopped?
If you have gingivitis – the good news is yes, with good oral hygiene, plaque can be reduced and controlled meaning that your gums will stop bleeding. However, if you have a build-up of tartar above the gum line you may need to have a professional hygiene visit at your local dental clinic to get this removed.
If you have periodontitis, good oral hygiene will go a long way toward stopping your gums from bleeding. When you have periodontitis there is often plaque and tartar attached to the tooth roots so you may need advanced gum health treatments to fully restore your gum health. But don’t let this put you off from starting to improve your oral hygiene because the sooner you start cleaning your teeth properly the sooner your gums will stop bleeding.
How Fast Will Bleeding Gums Heal?
The good news is that your gums can be healed, and stop bleeding in as little as two weeks with improved oral hygiene. If you need some advanced treatment it might take a little longer for the bleeding to stop completely.
Other Reasons Your Gums May Bleed and How To Stop It
In some very rare instances, periodontal disease might not be the cause of your bleeding gums. Some other causes are indicated below.
Trauma
Aggressively cleaning your teeth with a hard brush or using the wrong technique when flossing could damage your gums causing them to bleed momentarily.
If you’ve knocked a tooth out in a fall or had a blow to the face, the exposed socket may bleed for a short time.
Underlying Disease
Illnesses such as leukaemia, severe haemophilia or thrombocytopenia can be a cause of bleeding gums. If you have one of these diseases talk to your doctor about how you can control the bleeding.
Diabetes
Periodontal diseases and thus bleeding gums are a complication of diabetes, however, by practising excellent oral hygiene and controlling your sugar levels you can prevent gingivitis and bleeding gums.
Vitamin Deficiency
Whilst extremely rare in the western world, if you have a vitamin deficiency it can cause your gums to bleed.
It’s widely publicised that Scurvy caused by Vitamin C deficiency can cause bleeding gums but deficiencies in others such as vitamin D, K, B12 and Zinc can also be a cause (2,3).
Ensuring your diet is rich in citrus fruits, nuts, meat, poultry, fish and leafy greens can help prevent vitamin deficiency and the risk of bleeding gums.
Medications
Incorrect doses of anticoagulants (blood thinners) like warfarin and heparin or antiplatelet medicines can cause unexplained or excessive bleeding post-dental surgery or trauma.
Some medicines can cause gum swelling and bleeding or make you more susceptible to gum disease.
When To Seek Help
If you have excessive bleeding that can’t be stopped, take medicines or have underlying health conditions you should seek medical attention.
The methods below could be used to try and alleviate the bleeding.
Gauze
Moisten some gauze or a clean cloth and firmly press against the affected gum until the bleeding stops. Only pressure will stop the bleeding.
Ice Packs
Holding an ice cube to the bleeding gum will constrict the blood vessels and help stop bleeding. Ice isn’t going to stop the bleeding by itself, but it help whilst your body’s natural clotting mechanisms spring into action.
In Short
Gum disease is the major cause of bleeding gums. It can be stopped by effectively removing the bacteria by developing and maintaining good oral hygiene.
The great news is that you can treat gum disease and stop the bleeding naturally by cleaning your teeth twice a day if you’re using the correct technique.
You can find out more about how to effectively treat your gum disease at home and get the latest tips from expert dentists over on our home page.
References
- The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
- Botelho J, Machado V, Proença L, Delgado AS, Mendes JJ. Vitamin D Deficiency and Oral Health: A Comprehensive Review. Nutrients. 2020;12(5):1471. Published 2020 May 19. doi:10.3390/nu12051471
- Philippe P Hujoel, Tomotaka Kato, Isabel A Hujoel, Margaux L A Hujoel, Bleeding tendency and ascorbic acid requirements: systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials, Nutrition Reviews, Volume 79, Issue 9, September 2021, Pages 964–975, https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuaa115
