bleeding gums?

Question

I have had bleeding gums for about 2 years. When I first told my dentist they said it was because I was pregnant and not to worry. After I had my baby they still bled and then I fell pregnant again at 9 months and they where still bleeding. The dentist again said it was because I was pregnant. I have now got bleeding gums stil so they gave me cordysol mouthwash I used that then I went back with toothache and had to have a root canal. Since all this I have been flossing daily and using the mouthwash But still my gums bleed please help I need this to stop

Answer 1

Sounds to me like you have soft gums?
Sadly if this is the case there's Little you can do about it. Your gums will probably be inflamed & red too which will be quite uncomfortable too, don't tell a dentist I said this but cut out flossing for a while as you're agitating the gum line and probably causing them to bleed more that normal, change to a soft bristle toothbrush & try not to brush too hard, keep up with the mouthwash, an occasoinal gargle with TCP solution will help with bacteria & a salt water gargle will speed up the healing of your gums.

hope this helps

Answer 2

If the dentist gave you cordysol mouthwash I assume you are in England or Europe. I know that not every dentist there has a Dental Hygienist so, did you have a proper dental cleaning where all the deposits above and below the gumline were removed? This would have taken at least an hour and probably required anaesthetic. This deep cleaning removes all the calculus (calcified food debris and bacteria) from the surface of the tooth and root so that the gums can heal.

Bleeding gums are a sign of infection, the cordysol mouthwash would only have treated the surface for a few days so you need to remove the source of the infection, and will probably require repeated treatments about every 3 months. Gum disease is a chronic condition and once you have it you will always have it (a bit like diabetes). Left untreated you will loose the bone that anchors your teeth to your jaw and end up with loose teeth that can't be saved.

I would suggest that if you didn't get a deep cleaning from your dentist that you research the neighbourhood and find a dental office that has dental hygienists on staff and make an appointment there.

Answer 3

Do you visit a hygienist? If not it sounds as if you should.
Bleeding gums (other than hormone change in pregnancy) is caused by bacteria in the plaque acids getting between the gum and the tooth, causing inflammation/bleeding.
It is usually incorrect oral hygiene/brushing technique.
Corsodyl is generally used as a short course of treatment - no longer than 2 weeks. It will stain the teeth quite badly and knocks out all the bacteria - which means the 'friendly' kind as well. It does not replace good brushing.
Invest in a soft side of Medium toothbrush, or an electric one (Sonicare is good. Some cut out if too much pressure is used) Use a timer set at 3 minutes and start at, say Upper Right at the back. Relax your lips. Use a gentle, circular massaging action with minimal toothpaste (you don't want a lot of froth) and make sure the brush is angled slightly upwards ON THE TOOTH/GUM JUNCTION. Do not 'saw' backwards and forwards. Work you way systematically and slowly around the upper arch then around the inside of the teeth. Don't forget the back of the upper front teeth - for this area hold the brush upright. Then clean the lower teeth in the same way - do not miss any areas - hold the brush vertically to clean the back of the lower front teeth. Make sure you can feel the brush on the gumline.
Depending on how tight the contacts are, you could use TePe brushes (like tiny bottle brushes - different sizes) to go between the teeth. They could be dipped in Corsodyl Gel or Mouthwash. Floss any areas too tight for TePes.
Ignore any bleeding. Gums should be pale pink and firm - not red, puffy, shiny or purple. If you follow this regime the bleeding should diminish gradually and probably be gone in a couple of weeks.
If the filaments on your brush have splayed outwards you are using too much pressure - which lessens the effectiveness.
A dental practice with a hygienist is always the best bet. They specialise in Oral Hygiene, whereas dentists often don't!
Best of luck.

Answer 4

This sounds like it could be gum disease - it is certainly worth having it checked out. Gum disease can not be cleared by mouthwash or dental flossing alone.

Dentists have an instrument that can measure the gap between gum and tooth - it's this can can determine whether you do have gum disease and how bad it is. If it is they would normally treat the area which involves cleaning out any debris between the gum and teeth. You may need more than one visit for this procedure and, though unpleasant isn't as painful as it may sound.

The infection obviously had to come from somewhere, since you need a root filling it is possible before this work was carried out the infection started there and then spread around towards other parts of your gums.

I suggest you seek a second opinion.

Answer 5

Firstly WELL DONE for giving up smoking! When you smoke this effects the blood vessels in your mouth and stop signs of gum disease. i.e bleeding. Sounds like your doing what you should be. Continue with you oral health care routine and you should find that you will slowly get an improvement. Most people even none smokers with healthy mouths get the occasional bleeding. Might be an idea to visit your dentist and get some tips on your brushing technique this can also help to stop any bleeding. Hope it all goes well. Qualified Dental Nurse

Answer 6

I would go back to your dentist again to try and get to the cause of the bleeding gums (assuming you have had your baby, gums can bleed in pregnancy). Gums shouldn't bleed. I had bother with bleeding gums too, but never really got to the bottom of it. However, in my case, it may have been the fact that I hate mint toothpastes, so may not have been brushing as well as I ought to have done. However, I had to use a baby toothpaste on one occasion, preferred the taste and have used it ever since. For some reason, no more bleeding gums! I have mentioned it to my dentist, but didn't really get much response!

Answer 7

Possibility of a gum disease.Dont ignore this problem any longer and yes get a 2nd examimation from another dentist.You may be surprised to know that most tooth loss in adults is not caused by tooth decay but by gum disease.Your gums bleeding are a sign of gum disease.In conclusion.Perhaps see a new dentist immediately and regularly,to improve your chance of maintaining a beautiful healthy smile throughout your life.

Answer 8

Contact a periodontist (gum specialist) and see what you need done. You may need something as simple as a good deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) or you may need some gum surgery to get rid of infection that is deeper than they can reach with a regular deep cleaning.

Bleeding gums are not normal and stopping flossing will not help. If your dentist won't do something to help, find a new dentist. Bleeding gums is periodontal disease and can lead to tooth loss.

Answer 9

bleeding gums

Answer 10

wow sounds bad.
yno gingervitis (bleeding of the gums, gum diseases) runs in my family and my brother had the same problem.
try brushing your teeth more gently.
i used to obbsess over my teeth when i had my braces first put in, but they've gone to put now lol.
so yes try and be more gentle on your gums and keep going to the dentist until they do something useful for once.
you could have an infection??
I am NOT a dentist or doctor so its best to keep hassling health services lol