Bleeding gums (Pyorrhoea)

Do you experience bleeding gums when you brush your teeth or just notice that your gums bleed when you touch them? Most people think it’s normal. But when your hands bleed when washing them, aren't you concerned?

Bleeding gums are the first and foremost indication of gum disease. If not taken care of it can spread to other parts of the bone that support your teeth. Eventually, your tooth will be loose and may have to be extracted. Medically, bleeding gums is called as Pyorrhea

There is a tendency to focus more on the tooth surface when cleaning teeth but really, we should be more focusing on the gum line. This is where the bacteria tend to create infection and if not cleaned regularly, will cause tiny ‘cuts’. While brushing if you touch those ‘cuts’ you create bleeding. This is the simplest way to explain the disease process caused by bacteria but imagine if you left that cut on your hand dirty. If left unattended, it would never heal, and this leads to gums disease.

Cleaning your teeth and gums has become a major factor in keeping the mouth and body healthy. Be gentle but thorough with your cleaning routine. Here are some effective home remedies which you can try yourself to cure bleeding gums.

What causes bleeding gums?

Plaque

It all starts with the food you eat that sticks to the root of your tooth call plaque. In an effort to get rid of the plaque the cell of the body's immune system release substances that inflame and damage the gums and bone around the tooth. This leads to swollen and bleeding gums.

Smoking 

Smoking interferes with the normal function of gum tissue cells, making your mouth more susceptible to infections. It likewise makes your mouth smell horrible.

Hormonal Shifts

During pregnancy or during your menstrual cycle, hormones can rise and fall, making gums more prone to gum problems. It isn’t necessary for all women to undergo the same complaint. Some ladies might suffer from inflamed gums which might cause irritation, redness, and bleeding when brushed or flossed. All these symptoms disappear after pregnancy. 

Prolonged use of Medications

Sometimes due to long time usage of medications, there might be side effects that will damper the saliva production and leaves the oral cavity dry. This can lead to the fast spreading of germs which leads to the disease of gums. Sometimes blood thinners can also lead to this complaint.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Lack of vitamin C can cause harmful effects to the gums. A diet rich in carbohydrate and sugar but less fluid can easily lead to gum disease. 

Overlapped Teeth

If you have an overlapped tooth, and are crooked or rotated this paves a path for gum problems. This happens because the misalignments create more spaces where plaque can build up and harm your teeth and gums. Regular brushing and flossing is the only permanent solution for solving the gum issues. 

Underlying diseases

Most of the time bleeding gum is caused due to various gum disorders like gingivitis, periodontitis, etc. 

Family History

Gum problems like Periodontitis can be genetic. If there has been a history of gum problems in the family, it’s more likely to get affected to future generations.

Signs and Symptoms of Bleeding Gums

• Swollen gums
• Redness in the gums
• Gums that recede from the tooth
• Bad breath
• Foul taste in the oral cavity
• Loosening of your teeth
• Pus formed around your gums and teeth
• Bleeding from the cuts of gums

6 Effective Home Remedies for Bleeding Gums

1. Massage with Turmeric paste

Take non-adulterated turmeric powder. Mix it with salt and mustard oil. Massage this mixture gently on your gums. This should be repeated twice daily 

Turmeric is a widely used herb from the kitchen to treat dreadful disease. ‘Curcumin’ which is the most active phyto-constituent exhibits anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that treat the inflammation and infection caused in gums.

2. Fresh ginger juice

Take fresh ginger and clean it. Grate the ginger and extract the juice out of it. Gently massage the gums with this extract. Keep this for 20mins. Repeat the same twice daily. 

Ginger is an exceptional medicine that treats numerous diseases. The drug contains a ‘Gingerol’ that exhibits exceptional anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. These help to heal the inflamed gums and simultaneously treat the infections that cause them to bleed.

3. Neem leaves

Chew on neem leaves. You must do this on a daily basis after every meal.

Over the past centuries, Neem is known for its immense healing and medicinal properties. Neem is the best antimicrobial and antifungal drug known to mankind.  This effectively works on plaque and thereby resolves gum disorders. They also work on inflamed gums.

4. Coconut Oil Pulling

Take 2-3tea spoons of coconut oil and swish in your mouth for 10-15mins. This should be done once and is a very effective remedy for gum disorders.

Oil pulling is generally a good remedy to maintain your oral health. It helps to fight infections like gingivitis and periodontitis that are the underlying causes for gums to bleed. Coconut oil is capable of producing the antioxidants which destroy the microbes in your mouth.  Alternatively, sesame oil can also opt for the same.

5. Warm Milk

Drink a cup of warm milk once or twice daily whenever you suffer from gum bleeding.

Milk is the richest source of calcium and vitamin K, which can provide the strength to the gums and stop bleeding. The anti-inflammatory nature of milk helps to reduce the inflammation and soothes the gums.

6. Honey

Take drops of fresh honey in your fingertips and gently massage. This can be repeated twice daily.

Honey is a proven remedy against bacterial invasions in the gums which causes your gums to bleed. It is also known for its exceptional healing and anti-inflammatory properties that can treat the swollen gums.