Gum disease treatment in Noblesville, Indiana (near Carmel and Fishers): Do your teeth and gums bleed when you brush your teeth?

You know it isn’t healthy but you aren’t sure what to do about it. Well, bleeding gums are generally caused from inadequate plaque removal on your teeth and at your gum line. Left untreated, this will lead to gingivitis or inflamed gums.

When the plaque on your teeth isn’t removed (from regular brushing and dental appointment) it will harden into tarter. Eventually, this will lead to increased bleeding and a more advanced form of gum and jawbone disease known as periodontitis.

Successful periodontal treatment starts with establishing excellent oral hygiene. There is a lot you can do on your own to prevent or limit your chances of experiencing full out periodontal disease.

Home Care

• Visit the dentist at least once every 6 months for plaque removal.
• Follow your dentist's home care instructions.
• Brush teeth gently with a soft-bristle toothbrush after every meal. The dentist may recommend rinsing with salt water or hydrogen peroxide and water.  Avoid using commercial, alcohol-containing mouthwashes, which aggravate the problem.
• Floss teeth twice a day to keep plaque from building up.
• Eliminate between-meal snacks and reduce carbohydrate intake to help prevent plaque build-up on teeth.
• Use an oral irrigation device on the low setting to massage the gums.
• Maintain a balanced, healthy diet.

Call your health care provider if:

• Your gums continue to bleed even after treatment
• The bleeding is severe or chronic
• Other unexplained symptoms are associated with the bleeding

If you need to see your dentist, treatments can run the gamut from an initial consultation and follow-up appointments to surgery required to stop progressive bone loss. In a lot of cases, non-surgical scaling and root planning is usually successful if the problem has been identified early enough. Everyone benefits from having a periodontal examination. Make sure your dentist or hygienist checks your pockets the next time you get your teeth cleaned. It’s to your advantage to have subtle changes in your teeth and gums detected before they become serious.