Free Dental Directory of Diseases, Aliments and Solutions

Bleeding Gums When Brushing, Flossing, or Eathing:

Normal gums do not bleed when you brush, floss, or eat (unless you have recently began brushing or flossing).  If bleeding continues, you have either gingivitis (early gum disease with no bone loss yet) or periodontitis (more advanced gum disease with bone loss).

Treatment:

Visit your Dentist or Hygienist or both.  You likely require a combination of teeth cleaning, root planing, and a major modification to your home-care techniques.  Once all the tartar ( the hard deposits of calcium salts and bacteria on your teeth) has been removed from your root surfaces and you are keeping all the plaque (the soft film of food particles and bacteria) from your teeth through modified home-care techniques, all bleeding will cease.

Bleeding From One Spot Above a Single Tooth:

A tooth infection causes pus to build up at the tip of the root and produces a hole in the bone.  It is possible for this infection to work its way to the surface of your gums and form a "gumboil", which may bleed.

Treatment:

Visit your Dentist and have the tooth and gum area checked.  Infected teeth can be repaired by root canal procedure and is often followed by a crown (also called a cap).  If you procrastinate for a prolonged period of time, you may experience a major toothache, as well as, a very nasty infection that could ultimately become life threatening.

Bleeding After A Tooth Extraction:

It is common for the extraction socket to seep a small amount of blood for several days following a tooth extraction; however, it is not normal for the area to bleed substantially.

Treatment:

To reduce the potential of bleeding, apply pressure to the extraction site with a gauze pad which your dentist will provide following the procedure.  Some dentists also recommend for you to bite on a moist tea bag for five to ten minutes, because the tannic acid in the tea assists in stopping the bleeding.  Contact your Dentist immediately if bleeding persists or if there is substantial bleeding.

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