What do you mean by Bleeding Gums?

The gums or gingiva bleed due to the buildup of plaque. Germs or bacteria present in plaque damage the healthy tissue surrounding the teeth. This will, in turn, cause the gums to inflame and get irritated leading to bleeding gums, especially when brushing or flossing. This condition is called Gingivitis and is the first stage of Gum Diseases.

Gingivitis is painless and bleeding gums is usually the only symptom it exhibits. It might show signs like:

• Swollen,
• Red or tender gums,
• Persistent bad breath or taste,

Bleeding gums are usually caused by:

• Poor oral hygiene
• Smoking
• Chronic illnesses like diabetes
• Certain medications
• Genetic susceptibility
• Poor nutrition
• Clutching or teeth grinding
• Stress makes fighting infection difficult for the body

The patient must visit the Dentist at the first sign of bleeding gums so that the dentist can evaluate the condition and then prescribe the right treatment. In very rare cases, bleeding gums can indicate a more serious blood disorder.

Treatment

The use of laser in addition to the traditional treatment of gum diseases like Scaling and Root Planing may improve the efficiency of this procedure.

Laser Therapy for Bleeding Gums

The dentist will perform pre-testing the bacteria to find the extent of the infection.

The dentist will use a dental laser for accessing and removing the inflamed tissue present around the root of the tooth. Once the infected tissue is removed and the root is exposed, the dentist will start the root scaling procedure.

In the root scaling procedure, the plaque that builds up below the gumline and around the root is scraped off. Then the smoothening of the root takes place where the dentist uses instruments to remove the rough spots that might attract bacteria and allow for future infections.

This will then allow the area between the gum and root to regenerate during the healing process.

Advantages of Laser Therapy

Utilization of Laser for treating bleeding gums has quite a number of benefits as shown below:

• Local anaesthetic injection is not required compared to other treatment options as its less painful.
• Gums usually stop bleeding immediately.
• Deep periodontal pockets are sealed.
• Eliminates the usual discomforts caused by surgery like soreness and cutting the gums.
• Diseased and damaged parts can be treated precisely and accurately.
• Periodontal laser therapy is less invasive compared to traditional Gum Surgery and also helps in limiting the bleeding, the pain and the swelling.
• It provides a shorter recovery and healing time.
• Patient will have reduced anxiety, usually caused by the dental drill.

Post-Procedure Care

The patient must maintain a good oral hygiene after the procedure to prevent a recurrence of inflammation. Some habits to follow are:

• Brushing teeth daily and rinsing regularly with an anti-microbial product that will allow for the healing of the irritated gums.
• Avoid smoking to reduce the risk of future infections.
  
  

Authored by DR.NIRANJAN P