Welcome to Dentoword:
Learn your dental terms with detailed explanation
Today's word is "Bleeding Gums"
Bleeding Gums: 'An Early Warning Sign You Shouldn't Ignore'.
Causes Of Bleeding Gums:
A) Local Factors:
1. Acute Bleeding:
- Aggressive tooth brushing and traumatic flossing.
- Poor oral hygiene leading to plaque accumulation and Inflammation
- Consuming sharp or hard foods
- Burns on the gums from hot foods or certain medications.
- Acute gum conditions, such as necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis.
2. Chronic Bleeding:
Chronic inflammation due to severe gum conditions like periodontitis.
B) Systemic Factors:
- Vascular Abnormalities: Vitamin C deficiency, Allergic reactions, such as Schönlein-Henoch Purpura.
- Platelet Disorders: Conditions like idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura Vitamin K deficiency due to liver disease or conditions like sprue.
- Coagulation Defects: Hemophilia, Christmas disease
- Malignancies:
- Deficient Platelet Thromboplastic Factor: Conditions like uremia, multiple myeloma, and post-rubella infection purpura.
- Medications:
These anticoagulant medications can also cause bleeding gums.
Clinical Features of Bleeding Gums:
- Red, swollen, and tender gums.
- Changes in gingival consistency, with stippling on gums disappearing due to inflammation.
- Gums that bleed easily while brushing or eating food.
- Plaque and calculus accumulation around the tooth surface causing gingival recession.
- Burning sensation and painful gums due to inflammation.
- Bad breath
- Tooth mobility in severe conditions.
Diagnosis of Bleeding Gums:
1.Medical and Habit History:
A detailed history of the patient is important before starting any treatment. This helps to understand the patient's lifestyle and medical conditions, and to avoid any potential complications.
2.Visual Examination:
Clinical examination is an important step in diagnosing the disease. Check the color, texture, consistency, shape, and tenderness of the patient's gums to understand the condition of the disease.
3.Radiological Diagnosis:
Take a radiograph to better understand the severity of the disease, the level of bone involvement, and any underlying causes.
Prevention and Management of Bleeding Gums:
1.Oral Hygiene Practices:
- Brush twice daily with a medium - bristled toothbrush, including gentle flossing without hurting the gums, and clean your tongue.
- Gingival massage is important to combat gum diseases.
- Professional cleaning is essential to remove plaque and improve gingival health.
- Use mouthwash to fight bacteria and prevent plaque formation.
2.Regular Dental Check-ups:
- Visit your dentist every six months to catch gum disease early and prevent disease progression.
- Procedures like scaling and root planing, and periodontal therapy are required if the condition is slightly progressive.
Avoid smoking to maintain good gum health.
4.Treat Underlying Medical Conditions:
Manage conditions like diabetes and leukemia, and control other systemic conditions like hemophilia and Henoch-Schönlein purpura to prevent gingival symptoms.
5.Balanced Diet:
Ensure a diet rich in nutrients and vitamins to support overall health, improve immunity, and avoid future deficiencies.
Conclusion:
Bleeding gums are a warning sign indicating that something is wrong in our oral cavity or body. By understanding its causes, prevention, and treatment, we can control this symptom early and prevent further progression, thereby saving our beautiful smile.
Request to Readers:
Thank you for reading today's blog post. If you have any questions, please write them in the comment section. If you notice any of the above-mentioned clinical findings in your mouth, don't forget to visit a dentist as soon as possible to avoid further damage.
References:
1.Newman and Carranza's Essentials of Clinical Periodontology: An Integrated Study Companion / Michael G. Newman, et al. - Elsevier (2022).
2.Image credit: www.freepik.com
3.Image credit:
https://www.flickr.com/