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Bleeding gums treatment removes the plaque and tartar inflaming the gumline, through daily brushing and flossing, a professional cleaning, or scaling and root planing. At Nova Dental, we treat bleeding as a symptom with a cause behind it. Our first job at any gum visit is finding which cause you have, because the fix for plaque differs from the fix for a medication side effect.
The treatment for bleeding gums is whatever removes the cause, and MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine's patient reference, names plaque buildup at the gum line as the main one. Each common cause has its own fix, and some of them belong to a physician instead of a dentist.
Blood thinners deserve one extra caution. MedlinePlus warns against stopping or changing a prescribed medicine without talking to the provider who ordered it, so a bleeding gumline is a reason to call that provider and keep taking the prescription in the meantime.
Gums bleed mainly because plaque has built up along the gumline and inflamed the tissue. Plaque is a soft, sticky film of bacteria. When plaque sits against the gums day after day, they turn red and puffy and bleed at a light touch, which is the condition called gingivitis.
Leave plaque in place and it hardens. We explain how soft plaque hardens into tartar in a separate guide, and the short version is that tartar leads to more bleeding and, per MedlinePlus, to periodontitis, a deeper disease of the gums and jawbone.
Patients tend to describe the same scene to us. Pink in the sink after brushing, nothing hurts, and the bleeding has come and gone for months. Painless bleeding fits the pattern, since the CDC notes that gum disease can become serious with few symptoms a person notices.
Plaque is the main cause, and MedlinePlus lists several others:
Gums bleed during flossing when the tissue between the teeth is already inflamed, or when flossing is new to them. The American Dental Association says bleeding from a new flossing routine usually goes away in about a week. Keep flossing gently through that week. Stopping leaves the plaque where it is, and the bleeding returns.
Low vitamin C and low vitamin K are the two deficiencies linked to bleeding gums. MedlinePlus lists scurvy, which is caused by a vitamin C deficiency, and vitamin K deficiency among the causes. A physician confirms a deficiency with a blood test, so supplements make sense only after a diagnosis.
Gums that bleed a little during pregnancy often point to pregnancy gingivitis, a gum inflammation that some pregnant women develop. The American Dental Association describes swelling, tenderness, and light bleeding during brushing or flossing. Hormonal changes are the trigger MedlinePlus names. Tell us you are pregnant when you book, and keep your regular cleanings on the calendar.
You stop bleeding gums at home by clearing plaque from the gumline every day, gently and thoroughly. Home care guidance from MedlinePlus and Cleveland Clinic comes down to a short routine:
Home care has a hard limit, and the limit is tartar. The CDC states that tartar buildup cannot be removed with toothbrushing and needs professional treatment.
Think of limescale inside a kettle. A sponge wipes away fresh residue, and the crust that has baked on stays until someone brings the right tool.
Metal scaling tools sold online are the wrong tool for that job. A dental scaler has a sharp edge made for trained hands and a clear line of sight, and used at home it can injure the gum it is meant to help.
Give the routine two weeks. Recovery varies by cause, as our guide to how long gums take to heal explains, and bleeding that outlasts those two weeks has moved past what a toothbrush can fix.
A dentist treats bleeding gums by finding the cause first, then removing the plaque and tartar that home care cannot reach.
At Nova Dental, Dr. Talar Guldalian examines the gum tissue, measures the pockets between the gums and the teeth, and asks about your brushing habits and medications. We put intraoral camera images on a screen so you see the same inflamed spots we see. What happens next depends on what the exam finds.
A professional cleaning for gingivitis. Plaque and early tartar above the gumline come off during a professional cleaning. The CDC describes gingivitis as a reversible condition, largely treatable with routine oral hygiene and professional cleanings.
Scaling and root planing for periodontitis. Tartar below the gumline calls for scaling and root planing, the deep cleaning at the center of periodontal therapy in Woburn. Scaling clears tartar from the tooth and root surfaces and planing smooths the root, steps we walk through in what a deep cleaning involves.
Periodontitis is the stage the CDC says cannot be reversed, though professional treatment can slow and manage it. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults aged 30 or older had some level of periodontitis in 2009 to 2014, according to the same CDC page, so a diagnosis puts you in large company.
A referral when the cause is medical. Bleeding around clean teeth and healthy pockets points away from the mouth. We tell you so and suggest a visit with your physician, who can order the blood tests MedlinePlus describes.
Dr. Guldalian earned her DMD magna cum laude from Boston University's Goldman School of Dental Medicine and completed advanced training in general dentistry and prosthodontics at UCSF. Nova Dental is independently owned, and she has no quotas to fill. If a cleaning is all your gums need, a cleaning is what we recommend.
Gums that still bleed after two weeks of careful brushing need a look below the gumline. One exam tells you which cause you have and what it takes to stop it.
See a dentist when bleeding gums have not improved within two weeks of consistent brushing and flossing. Cleveland Clinic advises scheduling a dental appointment for bleeding gums that don't improve within two weeks. Come in sooner if any of the signs below appear, most of which come from the CDC's list of gum disease symptoms.
Red flags:
Swelling often travels with bleeding and can have a different cause. Our other guides cover swollen gums that last past two weeks and a swollen gum around one tooth, which is usually a local problem such as trapped food or an infection.
Call your physician when the bleeding is heavy, when you take a blood thinner and the bleeding does not stop quickly, or when other unexplained symptoms come with it. MedlinePlus and the American Dental Association both point those cases toward medical care.
One visit shows which cause is behind the bleeding. Dr. Guldalian will examine your gums, show you the images on screen, and explain your options.
We are at 304 Cambridge Road, Suite 340, Woburn, MA 01801, serving Winchester, Lexington, and Arlington. Call (781) 369-5722.
Are bleeding gums normal?
Bleeding gums are a sign that something needs attention, even when nothing hurts. The American Dental Association notes that gums can bleed for many reasons, including early gum disease, a new flossing routine, pregnancy, blood thinners, and brushing too hard. Gums that bleed regularly, or enough to worry you, are a reason to book a dental visit.
Will bleeding gums go away on their own?
Bleeding gums go away on their own in some cases. Bleeding from a new flossing routine usually stops in about a week, according to the American Dental Association. Bleeding caused by hardened tartar continues until a dentist or hygienist removes the tartar, because the CDC states that toothbrushing cannot remove it.
How long does it take for bleeding gums to heal?
Healing time for bleeding gums depends on the cause. The American Dental Association puts bleeding from a new flossing routine at about a week. Cleveland Clinic uses two weeks as the point to see a dentist if the bleeding has not improved. Periodontitis is managed over the long term, since the CDC says it cannot be reversed.
Can bleeding gums be a sign of something serious?
Plaque is the main cause of bleeding gums, and MedlinePlus notes that ongoing bleeding can also be a sign of a serious medical condition. Bleeding disorders, low vitamin C or vitamin K, and blood thinner use all appear on its list of causes. Heavy bleeding, or bleeding alongside other unexplained symptoms, calls for a physician.
Does a deep cleaning hurt?
Scaling and root planing at Nova Dental is done with a local anesthetic, which numbs the area being cleaned. Tenderness afterward is expected, and our guide to soreness after a deep cleaning explains how long it tends to last and what eases it. Tell us ahead of time if dental visits make you anxious.
What does gum treatment cost without insurance?
Fees for treatment are quoted after an assessment. Our membership plan includes a Periodontal Plan at $945 per year for patients who need periodontal care, with four cleanings, and an Individual Plan at $645 per year with two cleanings.