What causes bleeding teeth?

Bleeding teeth is a not uncommon symptom. Of course, there is no need to worry if your teeth bleed less or less frequently. However, if bleeding occurs frequently, you must pay attention and receive appropriate treatment. The causes of tooth bleeding include: lack of attention to oral hygiene, periodontal disease or other systemic diseases. Below, I will introduce to you the detailed reasons why teeth bleed!

1. Not paying attention to oral hygiene

Why do gums bleed? Most of the time it is because the plaque (bacteria) on the tooth surface is not removed in time. The calcium ions in the saliva calcify the plaque and slowly form tartar. The gums in the corresponding area are stimulated by the tartar for a long time, the capillaries expand, the permeability increases, and the blood flow increases, causing the gums to turn bright red or dark red, the gingival papillae to swell, the stippling disappears, the edges become thicker, and the gums are no longer tightly attached to the tooth surface, causing the gums to become soft and fragile and the gingival sulcus to deepen. When brushing teeth or eating, the gums in this inflammatory state are prone to bleeding due to mechanical stimulation.

2. Periodontal disease

Bleeding gums is one of the common symptoms in dentistry. Generally speaking, bleeding gums are common in the early stages of periodontal disease - gingivitis. When bacteria form plaque on the surface of the oral cavity, if it is not removed in time, the plaque may mineralize and form calculus on the tooth surface and above the gum line. This harder tartar has a continuous irritating effect on the gums. When normal gums are stimulated by inflammation, the capillaries in the gums increase, they become congested, and the gums darken or turn bright red. Once stimulated, the gums are prone to bleed. This is the reason for bleeding gums. Since gingivitis is an early stage of periodontal disease, the symptoms are reversible if its development is controlled in time. Therefore, regular cleaning (teeth washing) to remove tartar and relieve gum inflammation can help gingivitis heal.

In periodontitis, not only do the gums bleed, but the periodontal tissues are irreversibly damaged and the teeth may even become loose. Even if regular cleaning (scaling) cannot completely restore the lesions, scaling and other periodontal treatments or periodontal surgery may be needed to effectively control the disease.

3. Systemic diseases

Gingival bleeding does not only occur in oral diseases. Systemic diseases are also the main causes of gingival bleeding that cannot be ignored, such as scurvy, leukemia, hemophilia, thrombocytopenic purpura, aplastic pelvic hemorrhage, diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, cirrhosis, hypersplenism, late-stage nephritis, etc.