Bleeding gums are easy to brush off — literally. A little blood in the sink might seem harmless after flossing or brushing too hard. But here’s the truth: bleeding gums don’t qualify as normal. Rather, they are the body’s early warning sign that something is not on track, and ignoring this alarm bell can cost you more than you think.
The most common cause of bleeding gums is a condition called gingivitis, which is gum disease in its milder form caused by the buildup of plaque on your teeth. If not treated in time, gingivitis can escalate to periodontitis, a more severe gum infection that causes irreversible damage to the soft tissue and bone that support your teeth.
Other causes of bleeding gums are:
Gingivitis, or the first stage of gum disease, manifests as bleeding gums. Although Gingivitis is reversible, if ignored, it can turn into periodontitis, which is irreversible and results in gum recession, loose teeth, or tooth loss.
Chronic gum inflammation isn’t restricted to your mouth. Germs in the mouth travel through the bloodstream and infect other parts of your body, and can cause serious problems such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and even Alzheimer’s. Your mouth is a gateway to your body — if there’s chronic inflammation in your gums, there could be systemic effects.
Bleeding gums don’t heal on their own. Without timely intervention, the inflammation spreads, the plaque solidifies further into tartar, and the infection worsens. The longer you wait, the more it will cost you, let alone the fact that it becomes more difficult to treat.
