Bleeding gums are among the few highly definitive signs of gingivitis – the first stage of gum disease. Others, such as redness in your gums or slight inflammation, might not be as easy to detect, or they may result from a number of other concerns. However, when your gum tissues should never bleed, and if they, then it means the health and integrity of the tissues has been compromised. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, we advise attending an examination and receiving a diagnosis as soon as you notice your gums bleeding, or other potential signs of gingivitis’ presence.
Tracing the cause of gingivitis
Gingivitis is the beginning stage of gum disease, and describes the infection in your gums that results when oral bacteria work their way underneath them. These bacteria create growing pockets between your gums and teeth roots, also known as periodontal pockets, to make room for even more bacteria to accumulate. Many of these bacteria release toxins and harmful molecules that damage healthy gum tissues and incite rampant inflammation throughout them. This damage and inflammation lay the groundwork for more extensive gum disease, and it can cause your gums to bleed when exposed to pressure, such as from brushing and flossing.
Other signs besides bleeding gums
Bleeding gums can be alarming, but in most cases, it isn’t accompanied by discomfort or pain in your gums. Therefore, many people may mistake it as inconsequential, ignoring it until their gum disease grows worse. Besides bleeding, however, your gums can show other warning signs of trouble, including:
- Red, angry-looking gum tissues
- Chronic bad breath
- Increasingly larger periodontal pockets
- Gum recession (separation from your teeth)
- Loosening of one or more teeth
- And more
If you experience these or other signs of gingivitis, then you should schedule an appointment with your periodontist as soon as possible to control it before it progresses.
What happens if you ignore them?
Because so many people ignore or fail to recognize the earliest signs of gum disease, the condition commonly grows more severe than it should. By the time many patients seek treatment for it, they’ve already lost one or more teeth, or require tooth extraction due to lack of proper periodontal support. These consequences will continue to worsen until your condition is treated and brought under management with expert periodontal care. If necessary, your periodontist can also replace your lost teeth with one or more dental implants after your gum disease is brought under control.
Stop gingivitis and restore your gum health
Occasional bleeding is just one of several different consequences of gum disease eroding your gums and periodontal tissues. For more information about how to stop gingivitis and restore your gum health, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kania by calling her periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.