Causes of Bleeding Gums and Tooth Sensitivity
A twinge of pain. An unexpected jolt after eating something cold. Seeing blood after you brush. These aren’t just frustrating inconveniences, they’re tell-tale signs of two common but concerning oral health issues: tooth sensitivity and bleeding gums.
But what causes each condition? And is there a link between the two?
What Causes Bleeding Gums?
Gum problems, like bleeding gums, can be caused by plaque
Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly builds up around, on, and between your teeth
If plaque build-up isn’t removed, it can irritate the gums
Particularly when you brush or floss your teeth, or bite into something hard like an apple
This leads to redness, bleeding, and swollen gums
Which could all be signs of gingivitis—the earliest stage of gum disease
What Causes Sensitive Teeth?
Tooth sensitivity pain occurs when tooth enamel wears away, typically over time. Once it wears away, it exposes the soft, inner layer of your tooth called dentin, revealing small holes, or tubules, that run toward the center of the tooth, where the nerves live.
Why You Need to Address Both
If you have sensitive teeth and bleeding gums, you should visit your dentist to discuss treatment. While bleeding gums are fairly common, if left untreated, the condition can progress to a more severe form of gum disease. And if you’re dealing with sensitivity pain, you could also be suffering from gum recession, which happens to be another cause of tooth sensitivity.
Things like aggressive brushing, or even just using a hard-bristled toothbrush can lead to gum recession. Gum disease itself, like redness, swelling, and bleeding gums can cause gums to recede too. Once gums recede, dentin becomes exposed, making the nerves inside the tooth vulnerable to triggers, causing sensitivity. Which is why tooth sensitivity and gum problems can occur together.
Take Control of Sensitivity and Bleeding Gums
With its low abrasion formula, Sensodyne Sensitivity & Gum can relieve tooth sensitivity and improve gum health at the same time. It’s a dual action toothpaste that builds a protective layer over sensitive areas of your teeth, while targeting and removing plaque bacteria associated with gingivitis to help reduce swollen, bleeding gums. Now you can take control of both these concerning problems with one specialized toothpaste.
