If your gums bleed when you brush and floss, you’re not alone. Depending on the underlying cause, bleeding gums can be a straightforward “fix” or require more professional care to reverse.

Usually, the first sign of bleeding gums is because of gingivitis. Gingivitis is caused by plaque buildup accumulating along your gumlines and between teeth. If you’re not flossing daily, the gums start to get infected and bleed each time they’re stimulated.

Fortunately, gentle brushing along the gumlines for a minimum of two minutes twice per day, as well as flossing around each tooth daily is the best way to treat bleeding gums. Usually, it takes two weeks of proper daily hygiene to get bleeding to reverse.

But if your symptoms don’t improve, it could be due to buildup below your gums. Scheduling a cleaning at our Somerville dental office can give you a “blank slate” so to speak when it comes to tartar buildup. Even if you floss daily, you need to book a scale and clean at least every six months.

During your checkups, our Somerville dentists will measure the gum pockets around your teeth to make sure they’re not too deep. If they are, flossing won’t be able to reach down into them to keep the areas clean. A deep cleaning and adjustments to your home care routine will be necessary.

If professional cleanings and daily brushing/flossing don’t help, there could be an underlying health issue to blame. For instance, people with iron deficiencies may have bleeding gums from time to time, even if there isn’t a lot of buildup on their teeth.

Don’t ignore bleeding gums, as gum disease can interfere with heart health, pregnancy, diabetes, respiratory infections, and more. For more advice on how to keep your smile free of gum infections, schedule a checkup at Somersmiles Dental today.