When Should I Be Concerned with Bleeding Gums?
If you notice blood in your child’s saliva after they brush or floss, you’re probably alarmed by it. After all, who wants to see their child bleed? It’s good to be a little alarmed, or at least to take notice, making sure to pay continued attention and note if this was a one-off occurrence or the start of a pattern. Of course, if your child’s gums are bleeding continuously as a result of an accident or injury, seek medical attention. If, however, your child’s gums bleed when they brush or floss, and if this happens for a week or longer, take them to the dentist. While occasional bleeding after brushing or flossing isn’t necessarily a cause for alarm, consistent bleeding could point to a larger issue that might simply require some basic behavior modification, or might necessitate broader, comprehensive treatment approaches. Addressing such concerns earlier rather than later can help set them up for a lifetime of well-managed oral health.
In children, bleeding gums are relatively common, and they can often point to some underlying issue. While none of these causes can be accurately determined without a professional diagnosis, some of the more common contributing causes of bleeding gums include:
- Poor oral hygiene
- Gum disease
- Dietary nutrient deficiencies
- Certain medical conditions or medications
- Oral injuries
It should go without saying that a child who is bleeding from any kind of injury should receive some type of medical attention, even if it’s simply a parental evaluation and carefully applied bandage. If your child’s gums are bleeding because they fell, because of an impact to their face, or because they’ve otherwise traumatized their gums with some outside force, it’s a good idea to let their pediatric dentist or your family dentist assess the situation, especially if the bleeding is significant.
In other cases, it might be challenging to tell whether or not your child’s bleeding gums require medical attention. Intermittent gingival bleeding shouldn’t be a cause for concern, but there are some things to look for. If you notice any of the following symptoms along with bleeding gums, contact your dentist.
1. Visible redness or swelling in the gums
2. Bad breath
3. Frequent or heavy bleeding
4. Reported pain or sensitivity
It may also appear that the margins between the gums and teeth are bigger or deeper than usual, or that the gums are receding from the teeth. Any of these symptoms could indicate that gum disease is present, and early intervention is the key to preventing a lifetime of oral and dental health complications.
In many cases, children’s bleeding gums are due to improper oral hygiene, which might mean overly aggressive brushing and flossing or neglecting to brush and floss entirely. Vitamin deficiencies can also make the gums more prone to bleeding, particularly vitamins D and K, and certain medical conditions and medications might also predispose people to inflammation, sensitivity, or bleeding. Ultimately, with all the things that bleeding gums could indicate, it’s not up to you to determine why your child’s gums are bleeding; let their dentist work with you and with your child to figure out why it’s happening and, more importantly, to figure out how to make it stop.
Related Article: Are Bleeding Gums Serious?