What Should You Do When You Have Bleeding Gums?

We all want a beautiful smile to share with the world. Usually, that makes us think of taking care of our teeth and making sure they're straight and healthy.

But caring for your teeth isn't the only important part of good oral care. If you have bleeding gums, even occasionally, your oral health may not be as good as you think it is.

And it's not just the health of your mouth that you need to worry about. Poor oral hygiene can affect the health of your heart, brain, and lungs.

Even if your gums bleed occasionally, it's a warning sign that your gums aren't as healthy as they could be. To make sure your smile is a healthy one, here's what you need to know to stop bleeding gums.

If you want to know how to stop bleeding gums, start by making sure you're practicing good oral hygiene every single day. Here's what you need to do every day to ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy:

Floss at Least Once a Day

It's not enough to floss a few times a week.

You need to floss at least once a day. Find a brand of floss that you like and works well for you. Ready-to-use dental flossers are great for people who struggle with regular floss.

Gently place the floss between your gums. Do not try to force it because doing so will further irritate your gums.

Brush Regularly

And if you aren't brushing your teeth twice a day, you're also at risk for other oral health problems, including halitosis.

Make sure you're brushing for at least two minutes every time you brush. Do not apply too much pressure, as that can cause your gums to recede.

Instead, apply light pressure and rotate your toothbrush in gentle, circular motions. Another easy remedy is to just buy a good electric toothbrush to do the work for you.

And don't forget to replace your brushes/brush heads every three months.

Mouthwash Helps

You should also consider using an antibacterial mouthwash daily. If you're worried about how to stop bleeding gums, using mouthwash can help ensure you're doing everything you can to protect your oral health.

If you aren't too keen on mouthwash ingredients, you can make your own mouthwash that's just as powerful. You can just rinse with salt water as it dries up bacteria and kills infections.

You can also add baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to the salt to help you destroy bacteria and clean the area. These same ingredients are great to help clear up throat infections as well.

Clean Your Tongue

Despite all that your tongue does for you throughout your life, it's often neglected when it comes to proper oral hygiene. But your tongue is where most of the bacteria get stuck.

Plaque can also build up here and cause problems. And a dirty tongue can often lead to bad breath.

Do yourself and everyone you encounter a favor and make sure you brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth. You'll enjoy healthier teeth and gums as a result.

What you eat makes a huge difference to your body, especially within the mouth. Sugary and acidic foods wreak havoc on your teeth and gums. Sugar can erode your tooth's enamel.

Acids lead to cavities and also wear down tooth enamel.

Try eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. The fresh, crunch of real fruits and vegetables actually help pull bacteria off your teeth. They're also low in sugar and high in fiber, both of which also help take off unwanted bacteria from your teeth.

 Dehydrationis not good for your teeth or gums.Dehydration can cause your teeth to become brittle and increases your chancesof cavities and stained teeth.

But dehydration also affects your gums and canlead to bleeding gums and an oral infection. That's because, after you eat ordrink something, it tends to stick around in your mouth.

Acids and bacteria that are left behind canstart wreaking havoc on your oral health. But consuming a glass of water as youeat or directly after will help you to wash down excess bacteria and acid.

One bleeding gums treatment that's becoming increasingly popular is to use essential oils. Many oils like coconut oil and tea tree oil are known for their healing properties.

These oils can help reduce bacteria and inflammation. Just be careful, some products need to be diluted before you use them directly on your gums.

For most people, seeing your dentist twice a year is enough to stop bleeding gums. However, if you find that your gums are bleeding every time you brush for several weeks, it's time to call your dentist.

Rather than waiting until your next appointment, it's smarter to contact your dentist immediately when you notice something is amiss. It's much cheaper and means a far less intrusive treatment plan if you take action sooner rather than later.

Also, those who are going through a health crisis like cancer or an autoimmune disease are at risk for additional oral health problems. Talk to your dentist about any health problems you're dealing with.

Certain medicines can also cause additional oral health problems.

Often, you can avoid going to the dentist if you adopt some of the healthier habits listed above. Sometimes, your bleeding gums may get slightly worse before they get better.

However, if you notice any of the following, contact your dentist.

If your gums are red or swollen, it's a sign something is wrong. If you notice your gums are now sensitive to hot and cold, something is amiss.

Look at your gums to see if you notice a gap between the gum and your tooth or if you have any loose teeth and you're an adult. Also, check your teeth alignment, if it's changed, it's a sign to contact your dentist.

Lastly, if you've noticed you suddenly have halitosis or there's an odd or bad taste in your mouth, see your dentist.

Whether you have bleeding gums or a healthy mouth, you still need to see your dentist for a check-up twice a year. Don't let time get away from you.

And don't let the fea r of the unknown prevent you from seeing your dentist. There are lot's of techniques dentists can use to make the visit less scary and/or painful.

If you don't have a regular dentist or you haven't scheduled your next check-up, it's time to do so now. Click here to get started .