Bleeding gums - what to do? Almost every third patient in the dental office asks this question. 75% of expectant mothers have bleeding. Children are much less likely to suffer from periodontitis or gingivitis - only 10% of small patients come to the doctor with similar complaints. At risk are people who are over 40 years old. Among them, approximately 35% complain that their gums are bleeding. How to treat this unpleasant symptom? What traditional methods and means of official medicine can I use? We will consider in more detail below, but let's start with the causes of pathology and symptoms.
Causes of bleeding
If you ignore the hygienic procedure for removing plaque with regular brushing at home or with a professional dentist, then over time it will become harder and turn into tartar. This leads to inflammation of the tissues surrounding the teeth, and bleeding gums (what to do in this case, we will consider further). In addition, gum disease or mouth ulcers may be the root cause of the unpleasant symptom.
What else can cause bleeding gums? Here are the main factors that dentists highlight:
- Improper hygiene: the use of an inappropriate brush, irregular or insufficiently thorough cleaning, excessive toothbrushing, improper use of toothpicks or floss.
- Tartar. This is what was discussed above. Without prevention, it will grow and begin to separate the gum from the teeth, which causes bleeding.
- Vitamin deficiency. Vitamin deficiency in the autumn-winter period and spring vitamin deficiency affect all human organs, teeth and gums are no exception.
- Dental implants or crowns not installed correctly.
- A variety of gum diseases: for example, periodontitis - inflammation of the tooth supporting apparatus, gingivitis - inflammation of the gums, periodontal disease - an inflammatory process that affects the tissues surrounding the tooth.
- Hormonal malfunctions, changes during pregnancy, taking blood thinners, bleeding disorders, leukemia, scurvy and so on.
Other root causes of gum bleeding are also possible. The reasons and treatment will be determined by the dentist. Therapy in the severe form of the disease should be prescribed only by a specialist, but with a mild symptom or in the initial stages, gums can be strengthened at home.
Signs of gum problems
Bleeding gums can occur after brushing your teeth or eating food, often the symptom is accompanied by other unpleasant problems. For example, many bleeding patients are also characterized by:
- gum pain;
- the formation of "pockets" between the teeth and gums;
- swelling;
- Gum prolapse;
- bad breath;
- teeth begin to stagger.
Danger and consequences
Just the discomfort and pain associated with bleeding is far from all. It must be remembered that such signs are symptoms, not individual diseases. So, prolonged bleeding is an occasion to check blood for clotting, to refute or confirm leukemia, and to begin appropriate treatment. It can also be a sign of serious dental disease.
Ignoring bleeding gums can cause bacteria that accumulate in the oral cavity to enter the bloodstream. This can cause diabetes, pancreatic cancer, a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, increase the risk of stroke or heart attack.
Gum bleeding treatment
Gums bleed - what to do, how to solve a problem? In the initial stages and in the absence of significant discomfort, treatment can be carried out at home. Various mouthwashes are widely used, which are abundantly sold in pharmacies, gels, as well as folk recipes. Next, consider how to treat bleeding gums.
Home rinses
After brushing your teeth or eating bleeding gums? What to do at home? It is necessary to rinse the oral cavity using special decoctions and solutions. In general, rinsing is a hygienic procedure that should be part of daily care. For hygiene and prevention, rinse your mouth with clean water at least twice a day. This should be done in the morning and in the evening, and even better to carry out such a procedure after each regular meal.
This procedure, using medicinal decoctions and pharmacy products, cleanses the remaining pieces of food, and also has a general strengthening effect on the gums, relieves pain, redness and eliminates irritation. All bleeding solutions sold in the pharmacy are divided into antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. The former prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria and destroy them, which prevents the further development of the disease. Such funds include:
- "Furacilin";
- "Chlorhexidine";
- Miramistin;
- Salvin
- "Iodinol" and others.
Such funds must be applied in separate courses, lasting from ten days to one month. It is also not worth exceeding the permissible dosage, since the substances that make up such drugs destroy not only pathogenic microorganisms, but also useful ones that are part of the normal microflora.
Reduce inflammation, reduce swelling, relieve pain and redness, such as:
- "Elfix";
- "Forest Balsam";
- Perio-Aid and others.
They can be used for oral care on an ongoing basis.
Gum Treatment Gels
Diseases of an inflammatory or infectious nature can cause gums to bleed. What to do in this case? Dentists recommend the use of special gels:
- "Metrogil Dent";
- "Parodium";
- "Dental";
- Holisal.
They should be applied two to three times a day. A centimeter strip is enough for adults, 0.5 cm peas for children. Gel should be applied with massage movements. Funds can be laid inside the "pockets" that are formed between the gums and teeth. Among the contraindications, only hypersensitivity to the substances that are part of the drugs, and children's age (up to one year) are listed. Expectant mothers should consult a doctor before applying the gels and follow the recommendations exactly.
Did gum bleeding result from improper hygiene and / or the use of a toothbrush with inappropriate stiffness? What to do at home? You can use, for example, Forest Balsam, Silk or Lacalut.
Traditional medicine recipes
If the gums bleed when brushing your teeth, folk methods will tell you what to do. They are practically not inferior in effectiveness to solutions and gels from a pharmacy, but they are completely natural and absolutely safe. Folk recipes (gums will stop bleeding after a couple of days) offer to rinse your mouth with decoctions of healing herbs. Among the most common are:
- calendula
- St. John's wort
- yarrow;
- chamomile;
- oak bark;
- sage.
We’ll take a closer look at several popular methods that will help to deal with bleeding. So, what can help if the gums are swollen and bleeding?
Oak bark
This is a very popular remedy that effectively helps with bleeding gums, strengthens them, and is used in the treatment of other diseases of the oral cavity. To prepare a medicinal decoction, you need to pour one tablespoon of dry raw materials into a glass of boiling water. The mixture must be kept on low heat for five to seven minutes, and then cover and leave for two to three hours. The cooled broth should be filtered through a sieve or gauze. You need to use the broth for at least one to two weeks, but it can be longer. Rinse your mouth twice a day.
Decoctions of healing herbs
Medicinal decoctions for rinsing from the herbs listed above are prepared using the same technology. One tablespoon of raw materials need to be poured with a glass of boiling water, cover and let it brew for 30 minutes. With this tool, it is advisable to rinse the oral cavity after each meal and at bedtime, at least twice a day. You can mix herbs or alternate their use. Such treatment, by the way, is allowed for pregnant and lactating mothers, so if the gums bleed after childbirth, then it is worth rinsing your mouth with decoctions of healing herbs for several days.
Plantain
This plant is widely used in alternative medicine, it was recognized by the official one - various ointments and creams are made on the basis of plantain. If the gums are red and bleed, they can be rinsed with a decoction of plantain or a healing infusion from a fresh plant. In summer, it is better to prepare a tincture, and in winter you can prepare a decoction of dried leaves.
It is also allowed to chew a leaf of a medicinal plant for several minutes. First you need to wash it well, and spit it out after the procedure. This serves both for prevention and for eliminating bleeding gums. After this, unpleasant symptoms in most patients disappear after three days.
Baking soda
If your gums bleed, you can rinse them with baking soda. This affordable remedy that is in every home relieves inflammation well. A glass of warm water needs only one teaspoon of soda. Rinse your mouth at least two to three times a day. It is better to do this after a meal or at least thirty minutes before a meal, or better, one to two hours. Also, do not forget to do the same procedure before bedtime.
Rinse with kefir
For the visible effect, you need to use kefir nine days ago. It must be diluted with warm water (two parts of kefir and one part of water), and then used to rinse the mouth as often as possible.
Aloe Vera
This plant is at home even for those who are not keen on gardening. Aloe juice has healing properties and can cure many diseases. To eliminate gum disease, one sheet must be removed and peeled, then cut in half and applied to the places where the gums bleed. To alleviate the symptom, only five to seven procedures are required. You can also use Kalanchoe.
Flask of the Golden Mustache
Such a tool is used for advanced bleeding and even the appearance of ulcers in the oral cavity. The sheet must be poured with boiling water, add sea salt to it and insist for several hours. When the solution is ready, you can rinse your mouth. It is worth doing this morning and evening.
Onion seeds
A teaspoon of seeds is poured into 0.5 liters of boiled water. It is necessary to insist such a tool for at least eight hours, after which it should be passed through a sieve and used for rinsing. The optimal number of rinses: two to three times during the day.
Sea salt
At home, rinsing with a solution of sea salt will help. One tablespoon of salt (you can take with the addition of iodine or other useful substances) must be diluted in a glass of slightly warm water. Rinse the oral cavity several times a day, preferably after a meal.
Vodka with cinnamon
Rinsing with vodka and cinnamon will help relieve pain, reduce redness and swelling. To prepare the tincture, a couple of tablespoons of cinnamon is added to a glass of vodka and the mixture is infused for a week. After you need to strain the infusion and rinse your mouth with it.
Potato Appliques
Raw potatoes are rubbed on a fine grater. You do not need to clean it, but you should wash it well under running water. The mass should be applied to the affected areas three times a day for fifteen minutes.
"Toothpaste from the Indians"
If the gums bleed and the smell from the mouth does not disappear even after brushing your teeth, an unusual remedy from sea salt and banana skin will help. Salt (you can take the usual, but the best effect will be from the sea) should be grinded in a coffee grinder. Banana skins are dried in the sun, triturated. Two teaspoons of the powder should be mixed with the same amount of salt, add olive oil and stir. The consistency should resemble sour cream.
Such a tool is recommended to rub into the gums. The saliva that is secreted does not need to spit out. Hold it in your mouth for about ten minutes, then spit it out and rinse with clean water. The procedure must be repeated twice a day.
Raw beets
Gum bleeding after brushing teeth? What to do at home? Beets will help eliminate bleeding. The vegetable should be grated (it is better to choose a small one), add olive or sunflower oil to it. Mix well. Such a treatment mixture must be applied to the gums twice a day for twenty minutes. After the mouth, it is recommended to rinse well with a decoction prepared from chamomile.
Garlic
A peeled slice of fresh garlic should be rubbed gums daily for 14 days. This firming agent can be reused (two-week course) after a week's break.
Mummy
Many people have bleeding gums. How to treat this problem? Mummy, for example, will help. To obtain a solution, three grams of the mummy is dissolved in half a glass of hot water. Use such a rinse should be for three weeks. It is enough to rinse your mouth after hygienic cleaning, that is, in the morning and evening.
The choice of hygiene products
The most common cause of bleeding is improper care and oral hygiene. That is why you need to pay special attention to dentifrices. With bleeding, it is better to purchase special pastes from the pharmacy that work in a positive way, including on strengthening the gums. They also have a calming and healing effect.
It is important that with this symptom, pastes with a whitening effect are contraindicated. This will only increase irritation. It is worth abandoning toothbrushes with hard bristles. But it is also undesirable to use too soft ones, since they cannot effectively clean the spaces between the teeth. It is better to buy a brush of medium hardness, as it will prevent microtrauma of soft tissues and will cope well with plaque.
It is also advisable to purchase a herbal rinse aid. Such a therapeutic agent will have an additional soothing, healing and anti-inflammatory effect.
Recommended diet
If the gums are bleeding, the following vitamins should be consumed: C, PP, K, E, B. They are found in fish, dietary meat, cereals, nuts, vegetables and fruits. The use of fresh vegetables not only saturates the body with useful vitamins and minerals, but also additionally stimulates the gums.
Problem prevention
You must visit the dental office at least once every six months. The doctor will conduct an examination and professionally remove the accumulated plaque. At home, you need to follow the advice of your dentist to care for your teeth and gums. Also, hygiene cannot be ignored. Teeth should be brushed twice a day. It is recommended to adhere to a balanced diet, stop using tobacco, reduce the amount of sugar.