What Causes Bleeding Gums?

Do your gums bleed after brushing and flossing your teeth? Bleeding gums are one of the most common and earliest signs of gum disease, which is a bacterial infection of the gums. However, early diagnosis and preventative care can help reduce the risk of further problems associated with gum disease, including tooth loss, bone loss, and receding gums.

Visit West Ashley Family Dentistry biannually for a routine dental exam, screening, and professional dental cleaning. Dr. James Dickert and Dr. Agatha Lynn provide gum disease therapy to help patients restore their smiles. If you require periodontal treatment, contact our Charleston, SC dental office by calling (843) 371-5480. You can also schedule an appointment at West Ashley Family Dentistry on our website.

Gum Disease: Symptoms and Treatment

One of the simplest preventative treatments for gum disease is regular brushing and flossing. When you don’t keep up with your oral hygiene, plaque can accumulate on and between teeth. In addition, an excess of plaque on and between teeth can cause gum inflammation and irritation, or the stage of gum disease known as gingivitis. At this early stage, gum disease is still reversible.

Dr. Dickert or Dr. Lynn can create a personalized treatment plan for you to target the symptoms of gum disease. If early symptoms of gum disease are left untreated, the infection progresses, and you are at an increased risk of gum recession and tooth loss.

At West Ashley Family Dentistry, we offer scaling and root planing to treat gum disease. Scaling is a deep cleaning treatment that removes plaque and tartar from beneath the gum line. Root planing smooths down tooth roots so that the gums can reattach to a natural tooth. Scaling and root planing treatments are used in tandem to clean teeth and ensure that patients do not loose teeth due to gum disease.