BLEEDING GUMS AND BAD BREATH

There are lots of reasons why your gums might bleed, including:

Periodontal (gum) disease: gingivitis is the earliest kind of gum disease and shows itself as swollen, bleeding or receding gums. If left untreated, it may get worse and lead to periodontitis, which can affect your teeth, jawbone and supportive tissues. During pregnancy, many women experience gingivitis as a result of hormonal activity. 

Poor oral hygiene: if you don’t clean and floss your teeth thoroughly, food will get trapped, plague will build up along the gumline and infections are more likely.  

Over-vigorous brushing: using a hard-bristled brush or flossing and cleaning your teeth too vigorously can damage your gums and lead to bleeding.

External factors: some types of medication come with bleeding gums as a side-effect, while smoking, vitamin deficiency and stress can also be causes.

Misaligned bite: when the upper and lower teeth are incorrectly aligned – especially in the case of crossbite – they can cause damage to the gums. 

Underlying health problems: bleeding gums can be a symptom of everything from diabetes to cardiovascular disease and malignancy.