Proper Oral Hygiene – Preventing Bleeding Gums

There are several reasons why your gums may become swollen, red and tender. Medical conditions, medications and even certain diet deficiencies may cause these problems. Yet, the major cause of bleeding gums is none of these. What causes bleeding gums is the growth of bacteria within your mouth. In turn, unchecked bacterial growth causes gum disease.

While bacteria may be at the root of gum disease and such symptoms as bad breath and bleeding gums, the actual reason is poor oral hygiene. It is the major cause of many dental problems. Failure to take care of your teeth and gums will create the ideal environment for bacterial growth.

The Connection Between Poor Oral Hygiene And Bleeding Gums
If you notice when brushing bleeding gums, stop and consider what is happening. If it is not your technique, it may be the start of gum disease. Gum disease occurs when you do not brush your teeth properly. Failure to brush, floss and rinse your teeth daily starts an endless circle of oral hygiene problems.

When you do not take care of your teeth and gums, this pattern develops.

• Food particles become stuck between your teeth. They remain there acting as food for bad bacteria.
• The bacteria begin to multiply in your mouth. As you continue to eat, you add more food particles. This creates the perfect environment for them. They spread further throughout your mouth and affect more teeth and gums.
• The bacteria start to attach themselves to your teeth and gums as plaque. This whitish, sticky substance contains toxins. The toxins begin to eat away into your gum line and down to the bones of your teeth.
• The toxins create pockets in your teeth and gums. Gaps begin to appear between teeth and between your teeth and gum lines.
• During this time, you notice bad breath, bleeding gums and improperly placed teeth.
• If the bacteria spread unchecked and the plaque remains, you soon get constant bad breath and tartar.
• With tartar build-up, you are entering a serious form of gum disease. It is no longer gingivitis but periodontitis.
• Periodontitis causes your teeth to loosen before falling out. While you can remedy the problems for gingivitis, there is no cure for periodontitis. You can only treat the problem. A treatment may result in the removal and replacement of your teeth – an expensive proposition.

The only way to break this vicious cycle is through you adopting a proper program of oral hygiene.

What To Do To End Bleeding Gums
If you know what causes gingivitis, you can end it. Stop bacterial growth through a good oral hygiene practice. Brush your teeth everyday using commercial or natural botanical toothpaste. Floss your teeth daily. Be sure to remove all food particles from between your teeth.

Rinse your mouth out, as directed by your dentist. Do not use an alcohol-based product. Such mouthwashes tend to dry out your mouth. This causes bacteria to grow. Last, but not least, be sure to visit your dentist for a check-up and a cleaning at least once a year.

Conclusion
There is a direct link between proper oral hygiene and bleeding gums. If you take care of your teeth, you will not get bleeding gums and gum disease. It is simple to follow a good oral hygiene program. It takes only a small piece out of your day and it is certainly worth it.