Okay, so here’s something I didn’t really think much about for years: bleeding gums. Like, you brush your teeth, rinse, and see a bit of pink in the sink. Not a big deal, right? Except it kind of is.
This is not gonna be one of those super technical dentist posts with all the scientific names and stuff. I just wanna tell you what happened and why you might want to pay attention to that tiny bit of blood. ‘Cause mine turned into a way bigger problem than I expected.
It started small… and kinda gross
Honestly, my gums always bled a bit. I figured maybe I was brushing too hard. I even bought one of those soft toothbrushes and tried to be more gentle. But it still happened. Especially when I flossed. So, I kinda… stopped flossing. Which was mistake number one.
Then I noticed my breath was getting a little off. Like, brushing didn’t really help that much. And my gums looked kinda puffy. Not super red, but they didn’t look right either.
Finally went to the dentist… and yikes
I put off the dentist for a long time. Part laziness, part fear (and maybe money too, not gonna lie). But then one day I bit into a sandwich and felt this weird taste. Not pain exactly, just this gross metal taste. Checked my gums and there was some swelling.
Went to a Coquitlam dental clinic (Tri-Cities Dental something, can’t remember the exact name but it’s near that one Starbucks) and they took a look. Turns out it was early gum disease. Like not full-blown disaster, but if I’d waited longer, I might’ve lost a tooth.
The weird part? My toothpaste. Yep.
So here’s where it gets weird. My dentist asked about my toothpaste. Turns out the one I was using had all these whitening agents that can irritate gums over time, especially if your mouth’s already kinda sensitive. So while I thought I was doing a good thing, I was lowkey making it worse.
Switched to a more gentle toothpaste (some brand for sensitive gums, not even expensive) and they gave me this mouth rinse thing to help with bacteria. Also told me to floss every day no matter what.
After like 2 weeks… so much better
Not even kidding, two weeks of using the new toothpaste, flossing daily, and that rinse, and my gums looked way better. No bleeding when brushing. Breath was better. And they didn’t feel sore anymore.
I kinda wish I’d gone earlier. But honestly, I’m glad I figured it out before it got really bad. They told me if I’d waited another 6 months, it could’ve turned into periodontitis. That’s the kind where you lose gum tissue and bone and stuff. No thanks.
Moral of the story? Check your gums
If your gums are bleeding, don’t ignore it. It might just be a bad brushing habit, or it could be the start of something worse. Go get them checked. Like even if it’s just to be sure. And maybe check your toothpaste too.
Not saying you need to panic or anything. Just don’t be like me and wait until your gums are all puffy and tasting like pennies. Gross.
Anyway, that’s it. Just wanted to share. Gotta go floss now.
The post The Weird Reason Your Gums Might Be Bleeding (And What to Do About It) first appeared on Tri-Cities Dental Specialists.