Consistently Bleeding Gums? – Seek Prompt Dental Assistance!

This could well be an early warning sign of something more serious warns dentist, Dr Vishal Rana.

We may not think about our teeth a great deal of the time, and generally, we probably sail along with our regular routine of brushing our teeth twice a day and paying a visit to our local dentist every six months or so. This is definitely a good start for anyone wishing to have a healthy mouth. Other than this though, unless we break a tooth, or have a toothache in between, we probably don’t think much about our teeth and gums at all.

To make sure that our mouth remains healthy,  we would like to take this opportunity to remind patients of Alexandra Dental Care to be aware of anything that seems unusual in the oral cavity at any time. Some of these may be harmless and have a logical explanation. Sometimes though, they may be early warnings of trouble ahead. Early intervention, where appropriate, can mean the difference between a minor procedure and one that is more extensive. Where medical treatment is necessary, starting it early can make a big difference to the outcome.

In today’s post, we look at some of the unusual signs that we would recommend  you have checked out at our dental practice in Swadlincote, near Ashby.

Bleeding gums

This is probably one of the better known issues, thanks to regular advertisements for gum disease toothpastes on TV. The presence of blood in your saliva when you spit after cleaning your teeth, is never a good sign. There are occasions where this may happen because your brush has a sharp edge or even if you floss incorrectly. Generally though, if this happens more than once, you should allow us to examine your mouth.

One likely cause of bleeding gums is gingivitis. This can usually be managed quite well if treated early on, and is often reversible. However, advanced gum disease is much more serious so we do urge you to contact us if your gums have started to bleed when you clean your teeth.

Soft tissue soreness

If you find that your tongue or mouth feels sore, or is red and inflamed, you should keep an eye on this. It is possible that there has been some local aggravation from eating something that was too hot, or you may have even bitten the affected area, causing some discomfort. Time will usually heal this type of damage. If the problem doesn’t go away though, do make sure to have it checked out firstly by your dentist. If they feel that there is cause for concern and that it is not a dental issue, they may refer you to your GP for further investigation. Although it may well prove to be something else altogether, this, and other signs, could be a potential indication of oral cancer, and should be thoroughly examined by a medical professional.

Ulcers

Generally, mouth ulcers are not serious, although they can be quite painful They can be caused by infection following damage, such as a cut or biting your lip. These generally go of their own accord, but if you still have an ulcer after two or three weeks, once again, please call our dental practice so that we can investigate further.

Bad breath

We would all perhaps hope that those closest to us would let us know if we had bad breath. This can be a sensitive subject though, and one that many people would avoid having a conversation about. If you notice that people slowly take a step or two back when they are talking to you though, there is a good chance that this is the reason. Occasionally, it may well be that your bad breath has been caused by something that you have just eaten. Smokers too, will almost certainly have less than pleasant breath. But if the problem persists though, it could be something more serious.

Bad breath, or halitosis, where it is persistent, is often caused by poor gum health, and especially so in its more advanced stage known as periodontitis. If you suspect that you have this problem, or if someone has kindly let you know, your first step should be to arrange a visit to Alexandra Dental Care to have your gums examined by one of our team. In most cases, gum diseases can be reversed or managed through better home cleaning, combined with a ‘scale and polish’ which is performed by one of our dental hygienist team.

In a few cases, where the problem has become very advanced, it may be necessary to perform a ‘deep clean’. This will be performed by a member of the dental team and is a sophisticated procedure where not only the teeth and gum line are cleaned, but also the roots of the tooth and surrounding bone tissue. This is an invasive procedure that is ultimately avoidable providing that you don’t delay seeking treatment when you notice early potential signs of gum problems.

Being observant of your general oral health is something that we encourage for all of our Swadlincote and Ashby patients. Our dentists and hygienists are always happy to discuss any issues with you during your appointment, and also to answer any general dental questions that you might have.

If you have noticed something that appears to be unusual about your teeth, gums or general oral cavity, please don’t ignore them and seek professional advice from a dentist.

You can make an appointment to see myself or one of our team by calling Alexandra Dental Care on 01283 216347.

Dr Vishal Rana is an associate dentist at Alexandra Dental Care (GDC 176669)

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