My gums are bleeding

"When I'm Flossing"
"When I Brush"
"When I spit I see a little red"...

Comments commonly heard during the cleaning visit to the dental hygienist.

Often trivialized, this condition of the gums is an indicator of the state of health of your gums: symptom related to gingivitis. 

I like to say that it the gums are speaking to you! You have to listen to them!

They tell you that something is irritating them. Three main elements are irritating to the gums when they remain on the teeth:
1- food
2- bacteria (dental plaque)
3- tartar (hard, calcified deposits on the tooth) 

At home, you have the power to remove the first two elements, food and bacteria. Having control of 2 out of 3 elements is no small feat for maintaining oral health!

Tartar can only be removed by the dental hygienist during professional cleaning. This step will allow a reduction of the irritation and inflammation of the gums and a better result following your maintenance methods at home.

Do not take bleeding gums lightly... they speak to you...

Louise Biron, H.D.
Home Care Dental Hygienist