If your gums bleed when you brush or floss, you are far from alone. It is one of the most common things patients ask us about. It is also one of the most commonly dismissed: "It's just a bit of blood, it does that sometimes." Here is the honest answer: bleeding gums are common, but they are not normal. They are almost always your gums telling you something is wrong, and the wrong is usually fixable.
What causes bleeding gums?
In the vast majority of cases, the answer is gingivitis: the earliest stage of gum disease. Gingivitis is caused by plaque (the sticky film of bacteria that builds up on teeth every day) sitting on the gums for too long. The gums respond with inflammation. Inflamed gums are tender, swollen, and bleed easily, especially when poked by a toothbrush bristle or floss thread.
Other less common causes include:
Brushing too hard with a stiff brush. (A soft-bristled brush is what you want.)
Starting a new flossing or interdental brush routine; gums often bleed for a few days as they adjust, then stop.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy, which can make gums more sensitive.
Certain medications, particularly blood thinners.
Medical conditions such as vitamin K or vitamin C deficiency, or, more rarely, blood disorders.
Gingivitis is reversible. Periodontitis is not.
Here is the important bit. Gingivitis, the early stage where gums bleed but the bone supporting your teeth is still intact, is reversible. With good professional cleaning and a tightened-up home routine, your gums can return to full health within a few weeks.
If gingivitis is left untreated for years, it can progress to periodontitis. Periodontitis is when the inflammation reaches the bone supporting your teeth, and the bone starts to recede. This is not reversible. Once bone is lost around a tooth, it does not come back. Periodontitis is the leading cause of adult tooth loss in New Zealand.
The window between "my gums bleed sometimes" and "my teeth are loose because I have lost bone around them" is years, often decades. There is plenty of time to act. But the action does need to happen.
What you can do at home, this week
Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush, for two minutes, with fluoride toothpaste.
Floss or use interdental brushes once a day. The bleeding may get worse for a few days as your gums adjust, then settle.
Replace your toothbrush (or electric toothbrush head) every three months, or sooner if the bristles are flared.
Cut down on sugary drinks and snacks between meals; these feed the bacteria that cause plaque.
f you smoke, quit. Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for gum disease, and the gums of smokers can also mask early warning signs.
When to see a dentist or hygienist
If your gums have been bleeding consistently for two weeks despite a good home routine, book an appointment. A professional clean can remove the tartar that home brushing cannot reach, and your hygienist can show you exactly where you are missing during your home routine.
Book sooner if you also notice any of:
Gums that have pulled back from your teeth (receding gums).
Persistent bad breath that does not improve with brushing.
Loose teeth or teeth that have shifted position.
Pus around the gum line.
Pain when chewing.
These are signs that gingivitis may have progressed and need attention.
What treatment looks like
For early gingivitis, treatment is usually a thorough professional clean (sometimes called a scale and polish) and tailored advice on your home routine. One or two appointments are often enough to get the bleeding to stop. If gum disease has progressed, treatment may include a deeper clean (called periodontal therapy or root planing) and more frequent maintenance visits. Your hygienist will explain the recommended pathway and the expected cost in writing before any treatment begins.
If your bone loss is severe, we will refer you to a specialist Periodontist (Gum Specialist) who will assist to save your teeth.
Please note: we can never restore the areas of bone that have been lost, but we can treat and stop disease progression and ultimately assist in saving your teeth.
The honest takeaway
Bleeding gums are not a thing to live with. They are an early warning that something is off, and the something is usually easy to fix if caught now. A single professional clean and a small adjustment to your home routine usually resolves it.
Cambridge Dental's hygienist's Henry and Glenda see patients with bleeding gums every week. The appointment is calm, careful, never rushed, and the result is almost always significantly less bleeding within a few weeks.
