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Our gums are located inside the mouth, over the jaw bones and the teeth root areas. These consist of light pinkish-coloured bones and flesh and bones. The purposes of the gums are for protection of the teeth and to hold the teeth firmly in place in the sockets. Sometimes, there are factors which cause the gums to bleed which keep people to wonder. Why do you have bleeding gums? This may be a cause for alarm especially when felt together with inflammation and irritation of the gums. This is probably caused by bacteria finding their way to the tooth cavities and recessions in-between the teeth where plaque has formed excessively. This will later on cause soreness and redness of the gums leading to bleeding and sometimes teeth loss, when untreated.

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums and is considered the number one cause why gum bleeds. This infection is caused by the accumulation of bacteria on the teeth where plaques have formed, and found their way through the gums, teeth recesses and the tongue which may or may not be due to poor oral hygiene. The signs of this disease are clearly visible as shown by the swollen, reddish, and irritated gums which can be very painful. There is foul breath noted as well as gum shrinkage and recession.

There are times when the gums become accidentally injured and this injuries may be due to improper use or unfitted use of dentures, over flossing, harsh brushing, tooth picking, unsuitable use of oral washes and whiteners. A muth ulcer is alsovery common and is considered to be one of the causes of bleeding gums. Aside from this, nutrient deficiencies such as vitamins and Minerals as well as some medications used for blood thinning and pain-killers could also be a factor of why gums bleed. And, when you have the tendency to gum bleeding, it is best to steer clear from hot and spicy foods and beverages as it can cause severe irritation leading to bleeding gums.

Prevention is always highly recommended by following proper oral hygiene. Floss and brush the teeth as prescribed by your dentist and go for regular monthly teeth cleaning and check-up of at least 6 times annually. Diet is always an integral part in the prevention, so you should be eating a lot of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals. Start the treatment as soon as you can with the use of the recommended toothpastes or antibiotics because the slightest delay may lead to more damage as infection sets in.

However, people with mild cases of bleeding gums can start with the safe and natural home remedies to alleviate it such as the use of your own mouthwash with saline solution. To do that, you have to mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt to warm water, mix it thoroughly and rinse the mouth with it for 3 times a day. You can also add a couple of drops of tee tree essential oil to your regular toothpaste.

When the condition worsens, consultation with your physician or dentist should be done immediately since it may be an indication of some severe disease or an underlying medical problem.

As part of my work, I get to talk to a lot of people about dental health and from listening to their stories of pain, suffering, solutions and treatments that do not provide long-term relief is something I find very frustrating! I think that by now, in our modern age, better answers should be provided to us from ‘professionals’ and ’scientists’.

Unfortunately, I am convinced that we have been sold a ‘bill of goods’ in the notion that brushing and flossing are all that you need to maintain your dental health and prevent problems.

My proof that is not true is self-evident. People still get cavities, their teeth still crack or break and they still get gum disease. In relation to the last term, the stats say it all! Most dental professionals agree that up to 75% of people have some form of gum disease right now.

Therefore, you tell me, is it sensible to believe that merely brushing and flossing is enough for the majority of people to maintain their dental health? The reality of today’s state of dental health is very frustrating because the lack of knowledge about what dental disease is and what you can do about it is insidious.

In addition, I challenge you to ponder these simple questions. Dentistry has been with us for a very long time, yet why do so many people still need cavities filled, root canals, crowns, gum grafts, and other ’special treatments’? Do you think that no one has ever come upon good answers to prevent these problems in all the years that ‘modern’ dentistry has been around?

I certainly do not claim to have all of the answers, but I do think that I might have some of them. I was able to avoid one of those popular ‘deep cleaning’ treatments. Even if you have not heard that term from your dentist before or the terms, ‘SRP’ or ‘Scaling and Root Planing’, the chances are pretty good that someone you personally know has!

For an oral irrigator, I  believe that the hydrofloss is the best.

Chew xylitol gum for the healthy dental benefits discovered by Finlanders 6 decades ago.

Try a pH balanced, oxygenated mouthwash! 

I would further challenge anyone reading this article to dig deeper and discover the knowledge, understandings, tools and products that can truly help promote better dental health and save you and your loved ones from unnecessary expense, pain and prevent the need for harsh treatments!

David Snape is the author of the book: What You Should Know about Gum Disease, ISBN: 978-0981485508 available at ToothyGrinsStore.com and other online book retailers.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only and does not intend to suggest diagnosis, treatment or suggest dental health advice. If you have or think you might have a health problem of any sort, including but not limited to dental health, visit your doctor or dentist for advice, diagnosis and treatment. The USFDA has not evaluated statements about any products mentioned in this article.

Since I began offering the Hydro Floss oral irrigator at the Toothy Grins Store, I have had the good fortune to speak to many people.

A very interesting conversation occurred this past week. A gentleman from Minnesota called me and we had quite a conversation.

He was looking to purchase a hydro floss for his own use. I typically ask people if they have used one before and I have grown used to people telling me how much they like the hydro floss and how it has helped them personally kind of like therabreath.

This time, a slightly different story came forth. He was initially told about the Hydro Floss by his hygienist. This is not unusual at all, many dentists and hygienists recommend the Hydro Floss to their patients.

But he took things one step further. He has two friends, one is a periodontist and one is an oral surgeon and he asked them both about this device. He was surprised to hear that they both personally use the hydro floss.

But the oral surgeon did something a little differently and it was an eye opener for me. It is one of those moments when the ‘light bulb’ came on.

She also uses the Pocket Pal Jet Tips. This surprised me because I had believed the Pocket Pal’s were only needed for people who had 5 to 6 mm pockets. Well, you can bet this person, an expert on oral health, has gums that are in good shape. SHE uses the pocket pal jet tips as a preventive measure.

I hadn’t considered this before. While the regular tips are made to be used at right angles to the teeth and gums. The pocket pals are used to shoot water directly into the pockets.

So, I thought something like, “It makes sense to use them to maintain / improve the health of gum tissue”. Since that conversation, I’ve been using the pocket pal jet tip after my regular use of the Hydro Floss and I think it is a good practice for me personally! Read more about the Hydro Floss and the jet tips at ToothyGrinsStore.com

Disclaimer: This post is for information purposes only. It does not intend to render advice, treatment or diagnosis for any health condition. If you have or think you might have a health problem of any kind, visit your periodontist or physician for advice, diagnosis and treatment. The USFDA has not evaluated statements about any products mentioned on this site or in this article

The question "Where can you get a gum graft?" will invariably pop up once somebody’s either been told they have some tooth root exposure or they notice a darkening of the root at the receded gum line. This darkening can be due to a number of reasons but it’s most commonly from a bit of decay. Fortunately, many people can be good candidates for a grafting of tissue over that gum area.

This first thing to know about such procedures as grafts is that they are what are known as "periodontal surgeries." Now, the term surgery often conjures visions of an operating room theater and a team of intense-looking gown-clad medical types, but fortunately that’s not the case in this type of procedure.

As with any kind of surgery or disease, prevention is you best option. However, once you have reached a certain point, perhaps you and your doctor will feel that it is too late for preventive measures. Some products that are useful for periodontal health are ora md, therabreath and the hydro floss oral irrigator.

Gum grafts are most often performed in the treatment room of a periodontist, who is usually a doctor of dental surgery (DDS), with a board certification and specialist training in periodontal issues. Just as with medical doctors, though, any dentist who’s been licensed to practice dentistry can hang a shingle out and do just about any aspect of dental medicine.

It’s always highly recommended, though, that some time be taken to research for a dentist with appropriate periodontal certifications and extensive experience in performing grafts. If you stop to think about things doesn’t it make sense, after all, to put your trust in somebody who actually specializes in such procedures instead of a general dentist who may or may not have such a background?

Gum grafting can make sense in a few different circumstances, especially when the root of the tooth is exposed or there’s some hypersensitivity of the area surrounding the root. If done properly, with donor tissue taken from the palate of the mouth, a full healing can be expected within 4 to 8 weeks. Remember to try to use a periodontist who has experience in the procedure, if possible.

Scott W. recommends the book: What You Should Know about Gum Disease for those seeking more information on this topic. ISBN: 978-0981485508

Disclaimer: If you have or think you might have gum disease or any other health problem, please visit your doctor or periodontist for advice, diagnosis and treatment. This article is for information purposes only and does not intend to provide advice, diagnosis or treatment for any health condition.