How to stop gums from bleeding Gums with proper oral hygiene

Minor gum bleeds are pretty commonplace. You probably try to treat minor gum bleeding at home. However, natural remedies and proper oral hygiene can prevent and treat gum bleeding.

Many times people discover minute blood loss while brushing or flossing which tends to aggravate the already sensitive gums.

Dental plaque and tartar buildup are considered the primary factors responsible for gum bleeds as they encourage bacteria growth along the gum line. Sensitive gums and gum bleeds are both easily preventable with maintaining good dental hygiene.

Gum sensitivity and the resultant gum bleed are caused by:

• Not following the mandatory minimum of brushing twice a day
• Not using the proper toothbrush with soft and clustered bristles and not stiff, hard ones
• Not changing your toothbrush once every three months with your brush developing clustered bristles
• Not flossing gently and properly
• Medicating using aspirin, blood thinners, and ibuprofen
• Getting early-stage gum disease or Gingivitis

You can take precautionary measures to heal and prevent gum bleeds. The best preventive measure is to maintain proper oral hygiene. The rest are as follows:

1. Try using clean, medicated gauze

Using clean, damp, and medicated gauze on any bruised area can stop bleeds. If your gums are bleeding, gently press the wet gauze on the area till the bleeding stops.

If you have a weakened immune system or some other underlying disease, your gum bleeds will take longer to cease. Unless your bleed is minor, it is best to get the advice of a dentist.

2. Try calming the inflamed area using ice

Ice has a soothing, balmy effect on any inflamed area, including bleeding gums. The soothing effect generated by ice packs on aggravated muscles and minor injuries helps allay minor injuries such as cuts and scrapes.

An ice pack also aids in soothing the swelling and pain caused by gingivitis. Just press an ice pack on the affected area for 10 minutes alternatively till the bleeding stops. If the bleeding doesn’t stop soon, go to the dentist immediately.

3. Try using an antibacterial mouthwash

If the bacteria that cause the inflammation are killed or reduced, the inflammation automatically goes down. Antibacterial mouthwashes can kill the maleficent bacteria. As the inflammation gets treated, your gums will experience reduced soreness, swelling, and bleeding.

The common active ingredients of most mouthwashes namely chlorohexidine and hydrogen peroxide are also efficient in preventing periodontal diseases like gingivitis, which causes bleeding gums.

4. Warm salt water rinse

Warm, salty water drains the moisture out of active bacteria. If you rinse your inflamed mouth using warm brine, the bacteria count will go down and aid the healing process. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends using a mixture of 8 ounces of warm water and half a teaspoon of salt to rinse the affected area.

5. Apply an anti-inflammatory turmeric paste

Turmeric is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory spice. Scientifically, it hasn’t been proven to heal bleeding gums, but according to alternative science like Ayurveda, turmeric paste can help manage the symptoms of gingivitis and bleeding gums.

Curcumin, one of the active ingredients of turmeric is said to mimic the healing effect of chlorhexidine as per one small-scale study. The researchers also found that a turmeric gel, if used twice a day for 10 minutes each, had an anti-inflammatory effect on the gums.

6. Use a proper toothbrush

The ADA strongly recommends using a soft-bristled manual or electric toothbrush for two minutes and twice a day, daily.

There are extra soft toothbrushes available in the market for people with sensitive gums. Avoid using firm and medium toothbrushes as they are too harsh on the gums. It would help if you unfailingly replaced your toothbrush, every 3 to 4 months, as soon as the bristles frazzle.

7. Gently floss every day

Dentists recommend flossing one’s teeth regularly as it enhances oral health and helps reduce gum bleeds.

When you floss for the first time, you are likely to experience some bleeding as your gums are not used to the intrusion. As soon as they get used to it, which happens within a few days of regular flossing, your gum bleeds will stop.

8. Curb smoking

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has explicitly stated that smoking is one of the chief causes of gum disease.

Smoking not only compromises immunity but also inhibits the body’s natural ability to kill bacteria in the mouth. Smoking also subdues the body’s ability to repair tissues. Smokers who quit notice immediate improvements in their oral health.

9. Try Ayurvedic oil pulling

Oil pulling is a natural Ayurvedic remedy that can improve oral health and also whiten teeth. To pull oil, swish any neutral oil in your mouth for about 20 minutes and spit it out. Coconut oil is often used to pull oil as it has antibacterial properties.

The ADA doesn’t recommend oil pulling due to lack of evidence. Many experts explicitly state that oil pulling isn’t a substitute for regular brushing and flossing.

However, a small-scale study made participants swirl coconut oil in their mouth for 10 minutes every day for a week, and found that oil pulling controls plaque levels in the mouth.

10. Give processed and sugary food a miss

Starch and processed food based diet that includes refined bread, cakes, cookies, and potato chips may result in gingivitis and bleeding gums.

Starchy foods tend to stick to the teeth and gums. They eventually break down into sugar which the bacteria feast on and cause inflammation, bleeding, and eventually tooth decay.

11. Go green and eat crunchy vegetables

Vegetables that have a crunchy texture such as celery and carrots have a tooth cleaning effect.

Their crispy grain will often remove the food that’s stuck in the teeth thereby keeping them clean. These healthy vegetables are also low in sugar and carbohydrates, so they enhance your oral health.

12. Leafy greens inhibit slow blood clotting

Leafy greens such as lettuce, spinach, and kale are full of vital nutrients such as Vitamin K and Iron.

If you have a vitamin K deficiency, your blood will clot slower thereby causing more blood to flow out from any bleed.

When to arrange an appointment to see your dentist

If you detect any significant changes in your gums, teeth, or mouth immediately contact your dentist. Early-stage gum disease and other dental problems present themselves as recurrent redness, pain, and bleeding gums. Contact your doctor if there is persistent fever or swelling as it may be due to infection.

Nutritional deficiencies of Vitamin C or K, underlying health problems, or pregnancy might be responsible for gum bleeds, so you must contact your doctor if the bleeding becomes persistent.

If gum disease remains untreated, infections may turn serious and lead to permanent tooth loss. Dentists are also trained to diagnose more significant issues such as early stages of mouth cancer merely by examining your mouth.

Home remedies will help when you have to treat the minor symptoms. The best solution is prevention, and you achieve that by practicing good oral hygiene regularly. You get a dentist to look over your symptoms if they persist. Regularly scheduled dentist appointments will also help as they are trained to detect a dental disease even if it’s in a nascent stage.