Gums play an important role in maintaining your dental health. They protect the roots of your teeth from bacteria, preventing damage. Gums should be a healthy shade of pink. Not every case of bleeding, sensitive or sore gums requires dental treatment. However, if you have ongoing symptoms, there may be a more serious cause that your dentist can help treat.

What causes bleeding or sore gums?

Noticing blood or pain when you brush or floss can be alarming. There may be different reasons why your gums are irritated:

• Gum disease (also called gingivitis): This can occur if plaque builds up on your teeth. Bacteria in the mouth can form plaque when people don’t floss or brush regularly or properly, and this can cause your gums to become inflamed. This results in bleeding, swollen, or painful gums. If gingivitis gets worse, gums may start to pull away from your teeth, giving the bacteria more space to get to the root and tissues below. This can eventually lead to periodontitis (inflammation that can damage soft tissue and bone supporting your teeth).
• Pregnancy gingivitis: Some women get gingivitis during pregnancy, due to hormonal changes. These changes in hormones change the way the body responds to the bacteria that cause gum disease.
• Medication: Some medicines like blood thinners and aspirin make it easier for your gums to bleed, because they stop your blood from clotting. Other drugs like some chemotherapies can also cause painful, swollen or bleeding gums.
• Changes in brushing: When you change your toothbrush to a firmer one it may cause bleeding. Bleeding can also occur if you just started brushing or flossing more often, until your mouth gets used to the routine.