Brushing your teeth is a normal part of living a healthy lifestyle, but sometimes, there can be a very odd occurrence. Ever brushed your teeth only to find spots and globs of blood in the sink when you spit? Did the sight worry you? Of course it did!
Looking down at it, you probably wondered where the blood came from, why you’re spitting blood, and what you can do to make sure you never spit out blood again. Well, the information listed below will be able to help you answer all of those questions! You’ll also be able to get in touch with a good dentist in Guildford, and why you should think about doing so soon.
Keeping Your Gums Healthy
Your gums are what hold your teeth in, and help to protect the bones of your jaw underneath them. And just like your teeth, your gums can have problems of their own: cases of gum disease are far more common than you might think, and even if your teeth are perfectly healthy with zero cavities to see, diseased gums will still make them fall out.
A lot of research has gone into gum disease and how it affects our general health. During these trials, it’s been found that there’s also a chance that gum disease is connected with:
- Cases of Heart Disease
- Type 1 and 2 Diabetes
- Stroke
- Complications in Pregnancy
- Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- Some forms of Cancer
What Do Bleeding Gums Mean?
If your gums are bleeding, and you’re spitting blood even just a couple of times per month, it’s a sign of gingivitis. Gingivitis is the medical term for ‘inflamed gums’, and inflammation can occur anywhere in the body in response to an infection or an injury. But in the case of your gums, it occurs after plaque and tartar (bacteria) work their way under your gum line.
Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. And it might not just be bleeding – you may also experience swelling, tender gums, bad breath, receding gum lines, and loose teeth. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to your teeth falling out.
But What Can You Do?
Thankfully, you don’t have to live with bleeding gums, nor with the worry that your teeth are going to fall out soon.
- Attend regular checkups – It’s why an NHS dentist in Guildford would be best for you to see on a regular basis; the earlier gum disease is spotted, the more effective the treatment for it.
- Brush up on your oral hygiene – Brush twice a day, and try to floss once a day. Ask your dentist or periodontist for advice on the right technique, and any tools or products that could work for you.
- Stop smoking or maintain your diabetes – Both of these increase your chance of gum disease, so get in touch with a doctor about quitting smoking, healthier alternatives, and managing/maintaining your diabetes if you have the condition.
With a proactive approach, gum disease doesn’t have to be scary!
