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Bleeding gums

Q: Is bleeding gums serious?

As mentioned above, bleeding gums can lead to chronic gum disease, which must be treated if you are to avoid losing your teeth in the long term. So, especially in the case of recurrent bleeding, it’s important to consult a dentist, who can help you adopt the best attitude.

Q: What to do about bleeding gums?

Healthy gums don’t bleed! If you notice swollen gums, discoloration, pain or bleeding, you should consult a dentist, who will diagnose and treat the problem accordingly. Depending on the stage of your periodontal disease, you may need to consult a dentist who specializes in periodontology.

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Gum bleeding

A reason for consultation at any age, gum bleeding can be occasional and harmless, but in some cases hides more severe pathologies. That’s why we recommend consulting a dentist in Geneva as soon as possible.

Most of the time, bleeding is not painful and occurs when brushing or using interdental hygiene aids (floss, brush, etc.). This phenomenon is often amplified during pregnancy, due to hormonal changes. This condition is called gingivitis, which means inflammation of the gums.

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The cause of bleeding is usually bacterial overload, with an accumulation of plaque and tartar. Treatment is straightforward, in collaboration with the dentist and hygienist.

However, behind simple bleeding may lie periodontal disease, sometimes associated with tooth mobility, pain, or red or swollen gums. In such cases, treatment is relatively urgent. Your teeth are losing their supporting structures, making them more prone to infection and eventual loss.

Your gums are therefore a good indicator not only of your oral and dental health, but also of your overall health (diabetes, haematological diseases), and deserve your attention!

Care for this problem

Gum treatment

Hygiene and prevention

Practitioners who can help with this problem

Dr Simon Meyer

Dr Alkisti Zekeridou

Mélodie Ulmer

Jacynthe Brodeur

Laura Felder

Céline Nicole

Oriana Aprile

Types of gum bleeding :

Acute gum bleeding: The gums bleed occasionally. This may be a wound made by food that is too hot or sharp, or brushing too hard. The phenomenon disappears rapidly within a few days.
Recurrent or chronic gum bleeding: If the gums bleed on a regular basis, it’s usually gingivitis, i.e. inflammation of the gums. Because plaque isn’t effectively removed by toothbrushes and other interdental cleansers, the tissues supporting the teeth are weakened, become inflamed and bleed at the slightest touch. Untreated gingivitis can eventually lead to periodontitis (more severe inflammation of the tissues supporting the tooth, leading to loosening and eventual loss of the tooth). Periodontitis needs to be treated by a dentist specializing in periodontology to prevent further deterioration and even tooth loss, and represents the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, even ahead of caries.

Is bleeding gums serious?

What to do about bleeding gums?

How can bleeding gums be treated?

Sometimes, simply improving tooth brushing technique can improve the condition of the gums and stop the bleeding. If there’s no improvement, you can’t solve the problem yourself. In that case, contact us to make an appointment with either a dentist or a hygienist. The hygienist will give you a thorough cleaning under the gum to allow it to heal. If the gingivitis has already reached the stage of periodontitis, she will refer you to our periodontal specialist.

How can I prevent occasional bleeding gums?

As a general rule, for good oral health, you should visit your dentist and hygienist at least once a year. The hygienist will give you a thorough cleaning of any tartar that may be under your gums and cannot be removed with your toothbrush. She can also show you how to brush, floss and use brushes. The dentist will check your entire dentition, if necessary with X-rays, to detect the beginnings of cavities or infection. For a healthy mouth!