Causes of Bleeding Gums

Do you see blood in the water when you spit out your toothpaste? If so, that’s a problem. Gingivitis, or inflamed gums, is a common ailment, but it’s an ailment all the same and requires treatment and preventive effort.

Sometimes, people’s gums can bleed if they are brushing too hard with a hard-bristled brush. But in most cases, bleeding is the result of infection. Bacteria are always growing in the mouth and are often beneficial or harmless, but they can easily grow out of control in the gum pockets if they have enough food. Bacteria produce plaque around the gum line, which hardens into tartar. Acid sticks to plaque and tartar, irritating the gums and causing them to bleed.

Some factors put people at greater risk: smoking, pregnancy, blood thinners, and dry mouth. The last one is a common medication side-effect. People in these situations need to be especially vigilant about their oral hygiene (remembering that brushing needs to be done consistently, but not too hard), and to come in regularly for professional cleanings.

Dr. Christopher Emuedue operates Greenville Family Dentistry at 7215 I-30, Suite B, Greenville, Texas, 75402. To schedule an appointment, call 903-455-6701 or visit GreenvilleFamilyDentistryTX.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Bad Breath in Children

Bad breath in children is worth examining because it may lead to the detection of an underlying health issue. However, it could also simply be due to some of the specific challenges children have with oral hygiene, and at Greenville Family Dentistry, we want our patients of all ages to know how to keep their smiles fresh.

Contemporary dental advice for children stresses the need to brush the tongue as much as the teeth. The tongue is a spot where bacteria grow very easily, and in most cases, bad breath is caused by out-of-control bacterial growth. Food debris, which tends to accumulate in the back of the mouth and top of the throat, is food for bacteria, as well, but bacteria also feed on nasal drip. Either a sinus infection or a foreign object in the child’s nose can cause drip, which gets stuck in the top of the throat.

Since saliva is one of the body’s checks on bacterial growth, dry mouth is another environment which fosters bad breath. Children who breathe through their mouths or experience dry mouth as a medication side-effect will likely benefit from saliva stimulation, such as comes from chewing sugar-free gum.

Dr. Christopher Emuedue operates Greenville Family Dentistry at 7215 I-30, Suite B, Greenville, Texas, 75402. To schedule an appointment, call 903-455-6701 or visit GreenvilleFamilyDentistryTX.com and fill out a contact sheet.