Gum bleeding is so prevalent that it will happen to most people at some point in their lives.
Bleeding gums are among the earliest indications of gum disease. This ought to serve as a warning sign that our dental hygiene regimen needs to be adjusted.
Too many of us are ready to ignore bleeding gums, according to recent studies. Nearly one in five (19%) stop brushing the bleeding region right away, and almost one in ten (8%) stop brushing at all. More than one in four (28%) choose to ignore the issue completely, while slightly more than one in five (21%) choose to schedule a dentist visit.
Our gums bleeding may seem natural, but it doesn’t mean we should ignore it. In honour of National Smile Month, the Oral Health Foundation and GSK have compiled a list of five strategies to prevent gum bleeding.
1. Use fluoride toothpaste to brush twice a day.
There’s a reason this is at the top of the list. In addition to protecting against other oral disorders, brushing our teeth twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste is essential for gum health.
Continue using an electric toothbrush to clean your teeth at night and once during the day for optimal results.
Brushing twice a day is crucial because it gets rid of plaque, according to Dr. Soha Dattani, Director of Scientific & Professional Affairs at GSK Consumer Healthcare. Tooth decay and gum disease may result from the accumulation of plaque if it is not eliminated.
2. Apply floss or interdental brushes.
Another essential element of a healthy oral hygiene regimen is the use of interdental brushes or floss. This is because, unlike floss or interdental brushes, a toothbrush cannot get between our teeth. It’s critical to reach these hard-to-reach places with a toothbrush to avoid creating pockets of plaque that might irritate our gums and possibly result in bleeding gums.
Gum bleeding is typical when we first start using interdental brushes or floss, according to Dr. Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation. It’s crucial to persevere and carry on if this occurs. The bleeding should stop in a week or two.
The advantages extend beyond our gum health, as new research has connected it to a lower risk of heart disease.
3. Use mouthwash with fluoride.
Because it helps to remove dirt from our mouths, fluoride mouthwash is good for our dental health. Additionally, it helps keep plaque from accumulating on our gums, between teeth, and on the surface of our teeth between brushings.
Furthermore, by eliminating the bacteria that causes halitosis, or foul breath, it can also aid in breath freshening. To assist provide our teeth that extra protection throughout the day, it’s crucial that we select a mouthwash that contains fluoride.
Healthy gums are the cornerstone of strong teeth, therefore taking good care of them is crucial. Mouthwashes like Corsodyl can help prevent and cure gum disease and give our mouths the sensation of freshness and health they deserve.
4. Going to the dentist
Most likely, we would contact a mechanic if something went wrong with our automobile. The same holds true for oral health issues and dental care providers. The best place to go for any oral health problems, including bleeding gums, is a dentist’s office.
It is crucial that we call and schedule a visit if our gums continue to bleed for an extended length of time rather than waiting for our regular appointment to arrive.
“Once we have removed the plaque, our gums should stop bleeding and our mouth health should improve,” continues Dr. Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation.
5. A nutritious diet and way of life
This is crucial for overall health as well as for bleeding gums. A nutritious diet is essential to maintaining good oral health. Keep in mind that a product labelled “no added sugar” does not always indicate that it is sugar-free. It excludes naturally occurring sugars and simply indicates that no additional sugar has been added. Lifestyle choices like smoking and consuming alcohol can also have an impact on our oral health. Smokers have a higher risk of developing gum disease. This is because smoking reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood, which prevents the affected gums from healing.
According to Dr. Dattani, gum disease may be avoided by eating a diet high in fresh fruit and vegetables, vitamins, and minerals. Gum health protects against diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, tooth loss, and foul breath. These advantages go much beyond the mouth and can significantly raise our standard of living.
Dr. Carter continues, “It may be simple to ignore bleeding gums and believe they are completely harmless.”
But the unpleasant truth is that we risk losing our teeth if we neglect them. It may also impair our general health and cause a number of other illnesses.
For healthy teeth to be supported, healthy gums are required. When brushing, please pay attention to bleeding. We can help stop bleeding gums in their tracks and give our oral health the boost it needs by following the instructions in this article.