Why do gums bleed when you brush?
Most often because plaque, the soft film of bacteria that builds up on teeth every day, has been left along the gum line long enough to inflame the gum. This is called gingivitis. Inflamed gums look redder and puffier than usual and bleed with very little pressure.
Plaque that stays on the teeth hardens into tartar, which a toothbrush cannot remove. That is one reason the bleeding often carries on until the teeth have had a professional clean.
Bleeding from just one spot can have a local cause instead, such as food packing between two teeth or a rough edge on an old filling. That is worth pointing out at a check-up.
Should you stop brushing where it bleeds?
No. It is natural to go easy on the part that bleeds, or skip it, but that leaves more plaque behind and the gum gets more inflamed.
Keep brushing twice a day with a soft brush, angled towards the gum line, and clean between the teeth once a day with floss or small interdental brushes. When the cause is gingivitis, the bleeding often starts to ease within a week or two of doing this properly. If you have only just started flossing, some bleeding in the first few days is common.
If it has not improved after two weeks of careful cleaning, have it checked.
What are the signs it has gone further?
If gingivitis is left, the inflammation can spread below the gum and start to damage the bone that holds the teeth in place. This is periodontitis, gum disease that has gone beyond the gums.
Look out for gums that are receding so the teeth look longer, gums pulling away from the teeth, bad breath or a bad taste that does not go, pus around a tooth, teeth that feel loose or have started to drift, and new gaps between the teeth.
The hard part is that it often does not hurt until a lot of damage has been done. Smoking can hide it too, because smokers' gums often bleed less even when they are unhealthy. So no pain and no bleeding is not proof that the gums are fine.
What does a dentist do about it?
First, an examination. A thin probe is used to measure how deep the space between each tooth and the gum is, and X-rays may be taken to see the bone. That shows whether this is gingivitis or something further along.
Gingivitis is usually treated with a professional clean and better cleaning at home. Periodontitis usually needs a deeper clean below the gum line, called scaling and root planing, often with the area numbed first. Gum surgery, such as flap surgery or laser gum surgery, is only for some people, where deep pockets remain after that.
At STHIRA, check-ups and routine cleaning are done by the clinic's own dentist, and a periodontist attends the clinic for surgical gum treatment. If you are coming from Gachibowli or nearby, directions and timings for our Rai Durg clinic are on one page.
Could it be something other than plaque?
Sometimes. Pregnancy makes the gums more likely to swell and bleed, because of hormonal changes. Dental check-ups and cleaning can usually carry on during pregnancy, so tell the dentist you are pregnant rather than putting them off.
Some medicines make the gums bleed more easily, blood thinners in particular. Do not stop or change a blood thinner because of your gums. Tell the dentist what you take, and talk to the doctor who prescribed it if the bleeding worries you.
If your gums bleed along with easy bruising, nosebleeds, cuts that take a long time to stop bleeding, or you feel unusually tired or unwell, see a doctor. That combination needs looking into beyond the mouth.
How often should you come back?
With healthy gums, a check-up and clean about every six months is the usual starting point, though your dentist may suggest a different interval for you. What a routine check-up includes is set out on a separate page.
After treatment for gum disease, the interval is set by how your gums respond, and it is often shorter at first. Gum disease can come back if cleaning slips, and these visits are what keep it in check.
If you smoke or have diabetes, mention it. Both make gum disease more likely and slower to settle, and both can change how often you should be seen.
Our page on gum and periodontal treatment covers the deeper cleaning and gum surgery offered at the clinic.
Common questions
Is it normal for gums to bleed when brushing?
It is common, but healthy gums do not usually bleed with ordinary brushing. It most often means the gums are inflamed by plaque, which is worth acting on early.
Can bleeding gums get better on their own?
Bleeding from mild gingivitis often improves with careful brushing and cleaning between the teeth. Tartar cannot be brushed off, though, so a professional clean is usually needed, and bleeding that lasts beyond two weeks should be checked.
Can gum disease make teeth loose?
Yes. Once it reaches the bone that supports the teeth, they can loosen and move. This often happens without pain, so a loose adult tooth should always be examined.
Can gum disease affect dental implants?
Yes. The gum and bone around an implant can become inflamed and infected in a similar way, so implants need the same daily cleaning and regular checks as natural teeth.