Gum Bleeding – Causes and Symptoms
If the thought of a trip to the dentist makes you break into a cold sweat, you're not alone. Just remember that it's less painful, not to mention less costly, if you take care of your teeth before something goes wrong. Your dentist can monitor your general oral health, which is sometimes the first place other problems show up. If your gums begin to bleed, check your mouth for an injury or cold sore. If you wear dentures, be sure they fit properly and are not rubbing.
Once you eliminate all the easy answers, you need to consider other possibilities.
It's time to see your doctor if you have gum bleeding and:
- Fever
- Bleeding from your nose
- Bruising
- Bone tenderness
- Headache, stomach pain
- Enlarged lymph nodes and spleen
- Repeated infections in your chest, throat, skin, or mouth
Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the production of white blood cells. Your doctor can study a sample of your bone marrow to determine if you have the disease. Acute leukemia comes about more suddenly than chronic leukemia but has a fairly high survival rate.
- Red or purple spots on the skin
- Nosebleeds
- Bruising
- Blood in the urine
- Heavy vaginal bleeding
- Headaches or dizziness (sometimes)
Thrombocytopenia is a long word that means you don't have enough platelets in your blood. Platelets are the tiny disks that join to stop bleeding. If you don't have enough platelets, your blood is unable to clot, so you bleed more heavily and often. There are many possible causes and treatments of thrombocytopenia, and recovery is high. You need to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
- Blood spots under the skin
- Unexplained bleeding from your nose, intestinal or urinary tract
- Slow clotting
- Bruising
If you lack vitamin K, you may show signs of these symptoms. Certain bacteria in your intestines make this vitamin, which the liver uses to produce blood-clotting substances. Without enough vitamin K, you will bleed more than usual.
Bad breath
Teeth and gums hurt when you eat food that is cold, hot, or sweet
Intense pain when chewing on one side of your mouth
An unpleasant taste in your mouth
These symptoms point to periodontitis, an infection in the tissues that hold your teeth in place. See your dentist as soon as possible to avoid complications from this gum disease, such as tooth loss or an infection in your bloodstream.
Fatigue
Bleeding from your nose, gums, rectum, or other areas
Unexplained bruising
Sores in the mouth, on the tongue or rectum
You could be suffering from aplastic anemia, a condition where your bone marrow does not produce enough blood cells. This is usually treatable, so see your doctor immediately.
Bad breath
Inflamed gums that are red, soft, and shiny
If you have these symptoms and your gums bleed when you brush your teeth, you probably have gingivitis, an infection in your gums. This is a treatable problem, but one you shouldn't ignore. Left unchecked, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, a more serious stage of gum disease.