Calgary Dentist Explains Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums are often a sign of gingivitis or gum disease caused by inadequate brushing or flossing. Watch this video by dedicated Calgary dentist Dr. Arash Ravanbakhsh as he explains what causes bleeding gums and what steps you can take to protect against gum disease and gingivitis.
A lot of patients wonder what is causing their gums to bleed, and it’s not something you should ignore. Basically, the answer is plaque buildup or inadequate plaque removal. What happens is when you eat food, there’s plaque that forms on your teeth and this plaque causes your body to trigger an immune response. This immune response causes inflammation, inflammation causes bleeding, and that’s when you start seeing the red gums, swelling, and bleeding.
The first step of this cycle is called gingivitis. This is the reversible stage of the bleeding gums and it’s the stage where it hasn’t led to bone and gum loss yet. The following stage would be periodontitis, and that’s where you start seeing some irreversible damage – the recession of the gums, recession of the bone. A lot of times people develop loose teeth and various gum infections at that stage. It can also lead to bad breath. It can lead to changing your taste.
Furthermore, it is closely correlated with diabetes control. It increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, and studies even show some cancers as well. If your gums are bleeding, it’s definitely something to be concerned about if you have signs of gum disease or gingivitis, and there are definitely ways to address it.
At Inglewood Family Dental, we look forward to helping you develop a preventive dental care plan that emphasizes periodontal care to keep your teeth healthy and strong, for a lifetime of use.
If you or a loved one is experiencing pain or sensitivity in your gums and looking for a dentist in Calgary, contact Inglewood Family Dental to arrange your consultation. We look forward to helping you stop your gums from bleeding and putting a smile on your face.