10 REASONS YOUR... GUMS ARE BLEEDING
1 IT’S GUM DISEASE
The most obvious reason is gum disease, a condition caused by a build-up of plaque on the teeth. Most people will experience it at least once, with a risk of tooth loss, abscesses and receding gums. Studies have also linked sufferers with an increased risk of stroke, diabetes and heart disease.
2 YOU’RE FLOSSING ALL WRONG
Flossing helps prevent gum disease by getting rid of pieces of food and plaque from between your teeth, yet only one in five Britons does it regularly. Your gums may bleed and feel tender for a few days when you first start flossing. If bleeding persists, see your dentist who can check if you are doing it correctly.
3 YOU NEED MORE VITAMIN K
Vitamin K is important for blood clotting so that wounds heal properly, and it helps to keep bones healthy. Clinical trials show it has a positive effect on bone mineral density and decreases the risk of fractures.
Though rare, signs of Vitamin K deficiency include nose bleeds and bleeding gums. You should be able to get all the Vitamin K you need from a balanced diet that’s rich in leafy green vegetables.
4 DON’T GET MAD
A Harvard School of Dental Medicine study has linked anger and social isolation in males to gum disease.
A study of 42,500 health professionals found men who said they got angry on a daily basis were 43 per cent more likely to have the disease. The men who scored highest on anger scores were 72 per cent more likely to get the disease than those who scored lowest.
5 ARE YOU DEPRESSED?
A 2006 study published in the Journal Of Periodontology found women with stress-related depression had higher levels of gum inflammation and increased levels of plaque build-up. Stress increases inflammation in your body, which makes your gums more likely to bleed.
6 STOP SMOKING
Smokers are more likely to produce bacterial plaque, a cause of gum disease. Smoking also interferes with the normal function of gum tissue cells, making smokers more susceptible to infections such as periodontal disease. And it impairs blood flow to the gums, which may affect wound-healing.
7 IT’S HORMONAL
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can make your gums more vulnerable to plaque, causing inflammation and bleeding. Research has found women with gum disease may be more likely to give birth to a premature or low birth-weight baby compared to women with healthy gums.
8 AN ASPIRIN A DAY...
Aspirin can thin the blood and therefore increase bleeding. The anticoagulant drug warfarin, which is prescribed to people who have had a blood clot, heart attack or a condition where clots are a risk, can also cause bleeding gums.
9 ARE YOU ANAEMIC?
Pernicious anaemia is a decrease in red blood cells which happens when the intestines do not absorb Vitamin B12 properly. Symptoms include a swollen red tongue and bleeding gums, fatigue, pale skin and a loss of appetite. Risk factors include having type 1 diabetes. The condition can also run in families, although this is rare.
10 ...OR COULD IT BE SCURVY?
Once the scourge of seafarers, scurvy is on the rise again. The disease is caused by a deficiency of Vitamin C, which leads to swollen, painful gums that bleed easily.
Official figures show there was a 27 per rise in scurvy-related hospital admissions between 2009 and 2014. In the year up to April 2014, scurvy was the primary diagnosis behind 16 hospital admissions, and the primary or secondary cause of 94 admissions.
Vitamin C is water-soluble, which means that the body doesn’t store it long-term, so it needs to have more every day.