Puffy or Bleeding Inflamed Gums
Gum disease is silent and sneaky. If fact, almost 50% of all American adults have experienced some level of periodontal disease. Puffy, inflamed and bleeding gums is usually a sign of gum disease, even though it still can be the result of improper brushing and flossing, excessive tobacco use, chemotherapy, and hormonal changes. We will focus on periodontal disease since that is something you can directly avoid with proper oral hygiene.
The Causes of Gum Disease
We have millions of bacteria in our mouths every day. It is necessary to break down our food and beverages to start the process of withdrawing the nutrients we need for survival. If the bacteria are not kept in check it can become excessive. When there are too many bacteria it will immediately adhere to your teeth causing a clear sticky substance to form called plaque. Now in the plaque the bacteria turn into a damaging acid, attacking the enamel of your teeth, resulting in a cavity.
If the plaque is allowed to come in contact with your gums it will immediately infect the gums. This inflammation is first seen with swelling, inflamed gums and then progressing to bleeding gums.
The Stages of Gum Disease
The first stage is called gingivitis. At this level you can easily stymie and reverse the disease without any serious damage. A simple deep cleaning of your teethed by your dental staff will remove the plaque and with the source gone the gums will begin to heal right away.
If you do not treat the disease in a timely manner it will progress to periodontitis. The inflamed gums are now painful, bleeding can be more prevalent, and your teeth can become loose. As the gums inflame, they will sag around the teeth creating pockets. These pockets expose the sensitive roots of the tooth and create more places for food particles to hide.
How do you Treat Puffy, Inflamed Gums or Bleeding Gums?
We would strongly suggest that you schedule an appointment with your dentist to have an evaluation of the condition of your gums. Again, the most common cause is gum disease, but there may be outlying issues that need to be addressed. Your dentist will perform an examination, introduce x-rays, to determine the overall health of both your teeth and gums. Most of the time a deep cleaning will put your gums back on the mend.
At this point your at home oral hygiene will be addressed. Your dentist will echo the dental industry standards. Those are so simple. Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time. Use a good toothbrush. In fact, an electric toothbrush is timed for two minutes. Compliment your brushing efforts with flossing your teeth at least once a day. You are removing, daily, that constant buildup of plaque. Keep up with the plaque and no gum disease. No inflamed, puffy, and bleeding gums. It is also suggested and wise to compliment your efforts by seeing your dentist twice a year for continued preventative checkups. Follow these recommendations and your teeth and gums will stay healthy, and so will your smile!