Bleeding gums are a symptom of gum diseases. They could be an indication of something as simple as bad oral hygiene which can easily be taken care of, to diseases like leukaemia and dengue. The most common reason for bleeding gums is infection due to improper brushing and flossing. Improper dental hygiene causes bacteria in the mouth to form plaque on the teeth. The gums become swollen, resulting in bleeding gums. In most cases bleeding from the gums can be reversed by practising proper plaque control. A professional cleaning by your dentist is the only way to remove plaque that has built up and hardened into tartar.
Bleeding gums could also be due to improper position of teeth, faulty or irritating tooth fillings and dentures, nutritional deficiency, hormonal changes and certain medications. However, excessive bleeding gums can indicate even more serious diseases such as leukaemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), haemophilia, dengue, etc. Apart from these causes, there may be more causes like tobacco usage, stress, radiation therapy, HIV etc. which may all lead to gum disease and eventual bleeding from gums.
