Surprising Causes Of Bleeding While Brushing

Those whose gums bleed while brushing tend to attribute it to gum disease or stiff toothbrushes. While both of these are common causes of this problem, there are other things that may make your teeth or gums bleed while brushing. Here are a few examples:

Poor Nutrition

Bad diet can show up in your oral cavity in the form of bleeding gums. What is more, the mucosal linings of the mouth regenerate themselves every three to seven days, meaning your nutritional deficiencies will show up in your mouth even before they become evident in other parts of the body.

For example, inadequate vitamin C leads to weakened collagen, which means the integrity of the periodontal ligament and other mucosal tissues will be affected. In such a state, your gums will likely bleed even under mild irritation.

Smoking

Numerous toxins in cigarettes increase the risk of inflammation in the mouth. If you have been smoking for a long time, then it is also likely that your gums are enlarged. In such cases, bleeding may be triggered even by routine actions such as brushing. Obviously, smoking cessation is the only way of beating this problem.

Pregnancy

Hormonal changes during pregnancy lead to increased gum sensitivity. One reason for this is that the pregnancy hormones increase the rate of blood flow to some parts of your body, including the oral cavity. If your gums are sensitive, then they can easily bleed even if you are otherwise healthy. You will need to be extra cautious with your oral hygiene (for example, changing to a soft brush and making more frequent visits to your dentist) to prevent gum disease.

Bleeding Disorder

There are bleeding disorders that increase your likelihood to bleed from different parts of your body. For example, a minor scratch on your leg may bleed more profusely than it would if you didn't have the disorder. This problem will also exhibit itself in your gums as blood during teeth brushing. An example of such a disease is idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), which is the inability of the blood to clot. Luckily, treating the underlying disorder is usually enough to remedy the problem.

As you can see, you shouldn't make any assumptions if your teeth bleed while brushing. While you may think bleeding is the result of common issues, it could be something else. It is best to consult a dental clinic, like Adams Dental Center, for a professional diagnosis and treatment.


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